Enantioselective α-Amination Enabled by a BINAM-Derived Phase-Transfer Catalyst

Chem Sci. 2015 Jan 1;6(1):170-173. doi: 10.1039/C4SC02494J.

Abstract

Chiral anion phase-transfer of aryldiazonium cations was utilized to achieve highly enantioselective α-amination of carbonyl compounds. A broad scope of indanone- and benzosuberone-derived substrates was amenable to this strategy. Critical to obtaining high levels of enantioselectivity was the use of BINAM-derived phosphoric acids. The utility of this transformation was demonstrated through facile conversion of diazene products to valuable α-amino acid derivatives.