Highly enantioselective zinc/BINOL-catalyzed alkynylation of alpha-ketoimine ester: a new entry to optically active quaternary alpha-CF3 alpha-amino acids

An effective method for highly enantioselective alkynylation of ketoimine (alpha-trifluoromethyl ketoimine ester) has been developed via a zinc/BINOL catalyzed process. This protocol provides a useful and facile access to optically active quaternary alpha-trifluoromethyl alpha-amino acids and related derivatives of interest in life sciences.