Enantioselective Strecker-type reaction of phosphinoyl ketimines catalyzed by a chiral Zr-bipyridyldiol catalyst

An enantioselective Strecker reaction of N-diphenylphosphinoyl ketimines with TMSCN employing a chiral zirconium complex formed from chiral bipyridyl diol 1 as catalyst is described. The catalytic efficiency of chiral ligand 1 with other Lewis acids was also explored. Higher yields (50-85%) with moderate to good enantioselectivities (30-80%) were achieved for a variety of N-diphenylphosphinoyl ketimines. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.