Facile preparation of optically pure diamines and their applications in asymmetric aldol reactions

A family of optically pure diamines with tertiary-primary amine motif has been synthesized from optically pure binaphthol and amino acids. The catalysts are highly tunable in structure and has demonstrated high efficiency in direct aldol reactions. Thus, a variety of aldehydes or methyl 2-oxoacetates reacted with acetone in the presence of 10 mol% of catalyst and 20 mol% TFA furnishing the desired, alcohols in up to 99% yield with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee). (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.