Catalytic Enantioselective Strecker Reaction of Isatin-Derived N-Unsubstituted Ketimines

Org Lett. 2021 Jun 18;23(12):4553-4558. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c01194. Epub 2021 May 24.

Abstract

A catalytic enantioselective Strecker reaction of isatin-derived N-unsubstituted ketimines directly afforded the N-unprotected α-aminonitriles with a tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenter in up to 99% ee without requiring protection/deprotection steps. One-pot Strecker reactions from the parent carbonyl compounds were also realized with comparable yields and enantioselectivities. Direct transformations of the N-unprotected α-aminonitrile products streamlined the synthesis of unnatural amino acid derivatives and achieved the shortest one-pot stereoselective routes to a biologically active compound reported to date.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't