A general and simple procedure to access chiral β'-amino-α,β-enones, in seven steps, from an α,β unsaturated ester has been described. The use of a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction as a key step for generating the β'-amino-α,β-enones, permits access to a range of substrates under mild conditions and in moderate to high yield.
Keywords: Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction; stereoselective synthesis; β’-amino-α,β-unsaturated ketones.