Catalytic enantioselective electrophilic α-hydrazination of β-ketoesters using bifunctional organocatalysts

The catalytic enantioselective electrophilic alpha-hydrazination promoted by chiral bifunctional organocatalysts is described. Treatment of beta-ketoesters with azodicarboxylates as electrophilic amination reagents under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding alpha-amino beta-ketoesters with excellent enantiomeric excesses (93-99% ee). (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.