Diastereoselective Henry reactions of N,N-dibenzyl α-amino aldehydes with nitromethane catalyzed by enantiopure guanidines

Several enantiopure guanidines are studied as the catalysts of Henry reactions of N,N-dibenzyl alpha-amino aldehydes with nitromethane. Good diastereoselectivity is observed in the reactions of L-valine or L-isoleucine derived aldehydes catalyzed by a (R)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine derived guanidine. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.