Enantioselective organocatalytic substitution of a-cyanoacetates on imidoyl chlorides - synthesis of optically active ketimines

摘要

The enantioselective substitution of a-cyanoacetates on imidoyl chlorides under phase-transfer catalytic conditions is presented; a simple quinidine-derived phase-transfer catalyst gives access to the products, highly substituted ketimines, in generally good yields and up to 90% ee. Imidoyl halides are reactive and versatile chemical compounds which have found wide application in organic synthesis and in the study of chemical reactivity.