A one-pot combination of amine and heterocyclic carbene catalysis:: direct asymmetric synthesis of β-hydroxy and β-malonate esters from α,β-unsaturated aldehydes

The one-pot combination of amine and heterocyclic carbene catalysis (AHCC) enabled the synthesis of beta-hydroxy, beta-malonate and beta-amino esters from alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes with high enantio selectivity (91-97% ee). (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.