A New Organocatalytic Concept for Asymmetric α-Alkylation of Aldehydes

The organocatalytic asymmetric alpha-alkylation of aldehydes by 1,6-conjugated addition of enamines to p-quinone methides is described. Employing a newly developed class of chiral secondary amine catalysts, alpha-diarylmethine-substituted aldehydes with two contiguous stereocenters have been synthesized in a simple manner with good diastereocontrol and excellent enantioselectivity.