A catalytic enantioselective aza-Michael reaction:: Novel protocols for asymmetric synthesis of β-amino carbonyl compounds

beta-Amino carbonyl functionalities are ubiquitous motifs in natural and nonnatural products such as alkaloids and polyketides. Among the reactions for the synthesis of beta-amino carbonyl compounds and beta-substituted beta-amino acids, aza-Michael reactions using catalytic amounts of chiral Lewis acids might provide the best methods for the generation of optically active beta-amino carbonyl compounds. During the last five years, the asymmetric aza-Michael reaction has emerged as a very powerful tool for the synthesis of chiral beta-amino carbonyl compounds, as will be discussed in this microreview. (C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH Co.