ZrCl4-catalyzed aza-Michael addition of carbamates to enones:: Synthesis of Cbz-protected β-amino ketones

The reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones with benzyl carbarnate and 2-oxazolidinone was effectively promoted by a catalytic amount of zirconium (IV) chloride to produce the corresponding beta-amino ketones. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.