A new benchmark for the non-enzymatic enantioselective acylation of amines: use of a planar-chiral derivative of 4-pyrrolidinopyridine as the acylating agent

N-Acetylated Ph-PPY*, a new planar-chiral derivative of PPY, serves as an effective reagent for the enantioselective acylation of racemic amines, providing amides with very good stereoselectivity.