Catalytic enantioselective Strecker reaction of ketoimines using catalytic amount of TMSCN and stoichiometric amount of HCN

Catalyst loading as low as 0.1 mol% was achieved in the enantioselective Strecker reaction of ketoimines. Excellent enantioselectivity was obtained with a combined use of a catalytic amount of TMSCN and a stoichiometric amount of HCN as a reagent, and a chiral gadolinium complex as a catalyst. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.