Effective construction of quaternary stereocenters by highly enantioselective α-amination of branched aldehydes

Org Biomol Chem. 2010 Oct 21;8(20):4524-6. doi: 10.1039/c0ob00406e. Epub 2010 Aug 23.

Abstract

A highly efficient enantioselective α-amination of branched aldehydes with azadicarboxylates promoted by chiral proline-derived amide thiourea bifunctional catalysts was developed for the first time, affording the adducts bearing quaternary stereogenic centers with excellent yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee).