Organocatalytic asymmetric tandem condensation-intramolecular rearrangement-protonation: an approach to optically active α-amino thioester derivatives

An unprecedented and conceptually novel chiral Bronsted base/Bronsted acid catalytic method for the enantioselective synthesis of alpha-amino thioesters through a tandem condensation-intramolecular rearrangement-protonation has been developed which provides a number of important synthetic building blocks in good yield and with moderate to good enantioselectivities.