Organocatalytic asymmetric 5-hydroxypyrrolidine synthesis:: a highly enantioselective route to 3-substituted proline derivatives

The highly enantioselective organocatalytic tandem reaction between 2-acylaminomalonates and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes is presented. The reaction is a direct entry to 5-hydroxypyrrolidines and 3-substituted proline derivatives, which are furnished in high yields and 90-99% ee. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.