Asymmetric alkylation of tert-butyl glycinate Schiff base with chiral quaternary ammonium salt under micellar conditions

The asymmetric alkylation of the tert-butyl glycinate-benzophenone Schiff base 1 with various arylmethyl bromides catalyzed by O-allyl-N-(9 anthracenylmethyl)cinchonidinium bromide (2) proceeded smoothly under micellar conditions (5 equiv of 1 M KOH and 0.4 equiv of Triton X-100) to give the alkylated products in good yields and with good enantioselectivity (72-85% ee), depending on the electrophiles.