Catalytic enantioselective electrophilic α-amination of β-ketoesters catalyzed by chiral palladium complexes

The catalytic enantioselective electrophilic alpha-amination promoted chiral palladium complexes 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 (91-99%, cc). Palladium complexes were immobilized in [bmim]PF6, and their applications to catalytic alpha-amination of beta-ketoesters were successfully demonstrated. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.