Synthesis of a scalemic β-amino disulfide from (S)-phenylglycine and (R)-styrene oxide and use as a catalyst in enantioselective additions of diethylzinc to aldehydes

Two routes to the novel scalemic β-amino disulfide 7 have been developed from (S)-phenylglycine and (R)-styrene oxide. The β-amino disulfide 7 was used as a catalyst in the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes providing (R)-secondary alcohols in 39-80% ee.