Enantioselective Allylic Amination of Morita-Baylis-Hillman Carbonates Catalysed by Modified Cinchona Alkaloids

An efficient procedure for the asymmetric allylic animation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates with cyclic imides catalysed by commercially available cinchona alkaloids is reported, It proves to be a facile protocol that affords alpha-methylene beta-amino esters with good-to-excellent enantioselbctivities (up to 94 % ee) and in high yields (up to 97%). ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)