Stereoselective Direct Amine-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Aldol Addition

A stereoselective decarboxylative aldol addition of beta- and alpha-keto acids in the presence of catalytic amounts of amines is described. By the optional deployment of chiral enolizable aldehydes an access to enantiopure configurative defined ketopentoses, ketohexoses, or ketoheptoses is given.