Catalytic asymmetric phase-transfer Michael reaction and Mannich-type reaction of glycine Schiff bases with tartrate-derived diammonium salts

Catalytic asymmetric Michael and Mannich-type reactions of glycine Schiff bases with chiral two-center organocatalysts, tartrate-derived diammonium salts (TaDiASs), are described. On the basis of conformational studies, optimized TaDiASs with a 2,6-disubstituted cyclohexane spiroacetal were newly designed. These TaDiASs catalyzed the asymmetric Michael and Mannich-type reactions of glycine Schiff bases with higher enantioselectivity than previous catalysts. In the Mannich-type reaction, aromatic N-Boc-protected imines (Boc=tert-butoxycarbonyl) as well as enolizable alkyl imines were applicable. As a synthetic application of the catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reaction with the optimized TaDiASs, we developed a catalytic asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-nemonapride, which is an antipsychotic agent.