Enantioselective 1,4-addition of aromatic nucleophiles to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes using chiral organic catalysts

摘要

Nonmetallic, chiral organic catalysts are used to catalyze the 1,4-addition of an aromatic nucleophile to an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated aldehyde. The aromatic nucleophile may be an N,N-disubstituted aniline compound, or an analog thereof. The reaction is efficient and enantioselective, and proceeds with a variety of substituted and unsubstituted aromatic nucleophiles and aldehydes. The invention also provides a method for the deamination of aromatic N,N-disubstituted amines such as those resulting from the 1,4-addition of an aromatic nucleophile to an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated aldehyde.