Direct enantioselective amination of α-ketoester catalyzed by tertiary amine thiourea: a new approach to chiral α-hydroxy-β-amino acid

A highly enantioselective amination of α-ketoesters catalyzed by chiral tertiary amine thioureas was reported to afford α-hydroxy-β-amino acids with two continuous stereocenters in high yields and enantioselectivities.