Catalytic enantioselective aza-Henry reaction with broad substrate scope.
In situ generated azomethines from readily available precursors react with nitromethane in the presence of 120 mol % of CsOH.H2O and 12 mol % of quinine- and cinchonidine-derived quaternary ammonium chlorides to provide the corresponding aza-Henry adducts in good yields and very high selectivities. It represents the first general enantioselective aza-Henry method for azomethines derived from enolizable aldehydes, giving rise to enantiomeric excesses above 94%. In addition, the reactions with nitroethane afforded high diastereo- and enantioselectivities (syn:anti up to 95:5; up to 98% ee for syn).
Palomo
Claudio
C
Departamento de Química Orgánica I, Facultad de Química, Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo. 1072, 20080 San Sebastián, Spain. qoppanic@sc.ehu.es
Oiarbide
Mikel
M
Laso
Antonio
A
López
Rosa
R