Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of anti-α,β-Diamino Acid Derivatives

A novel approach to chiral anti-alpha,beta-diamino acid derivatives through tandem orthogonal organocatalysis has been developed. Chiral phosphoric acid catalysts control the chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective addition of hydroxylamines to alkylideneoxazolones, while a phosphine catalyst promotes the isomerization of Z-alkylideneoxazolones to the more reactive E- alkylideneoxazolones.