Ready N-alkylation of enantiopure aminophenols:: synthesis of tertiary aminophenols

A regioselective indirect alkylation of aminophenols to enantiopure tertiary aminophenols, which are useful chiral ligands for metal-catalysed asymmetric reactions, is reported. This very simple synthetic methodology, through reduction or alkylation of an intermediate benzoxazine, was performed in mild conditions, suitable for the conservation of the configuration of the stereogenic centres. Some crystalline aminophenols show the phenomenon of 'crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation'. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.