Enantioselective synthesis of α,α-disubstituted amines from nitroalkenes

Disubstituted nitroalkenes were converted into enantiomerically enriched amines (isolated as their hydrochloride salts) with enantiomeric excesses of 88 to > 95% in three steps: (a) highly stereoselective conjugate addition of the potassium salt of 4-phenyloxazolidin-2-one; (b) radical-mediated removal of the nitro group: (c) cleavage of the oxazolidinone. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.