Aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman-type reactions:: highly enantioselective organocatalytic addition of unmodified α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to N-Boc protected imines

Highly enantioselective catalytic routes to Boc protected aza-Morita-Baylis-Hiliman-type products are presented. The organocatalytic asymmetric reactions between unmodified alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and N-Boc protected aryl imines proceed with excellent chemo- and enantioselectivity to give the corresponding compounds in good yields with 97-99% ee. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.