Enantioselective N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Mannich Reaction

Significance

An enantioselective addition of α-aryloxyacetaldehyde 3 to aromatic imines 2 was reported to proceed under N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis. Initial products, amino esters E were transformed to the corresponding amides by treatment of the reaction mixture with benzyl­amine. With chiral precatalyst 1, β-amino amides 4 have been obtained in useful yields and high enantioselectivity. Other in situ transformations of E were also demonstrated affording β-amino alcohols, esters, carboxylic acids or peptides in a one-pot reaction.