title: N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed direct cross-aza-benzoin reaction: Efficient synthesis of α-amino-β-keto esters.
abstract: An efficient catalytic synthesis of α-amino-β-keto esters has been newly developed. Cross-coupling of various aldehydes with α-imino ester, catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbene, leads chemoselectively to α-amino-β-keto esters in moderate to good yields with high atom efficiency. The reaction mechanism is discussed, and it is proposed that the α-amino-β-keto esters are formed under thermodynamic control.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uno
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Yoshiji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takemoto