Highly effective and enantioselective α-amination of aldehydes promoted by chiral proline amide-thiourea bifunctional catalysts

A series of secondary amine-thiourea catalysts derived from l-proline and chiral diamine were prepared and successfully applied to the highly effective and enantioselective α-amination of unmodified aldehydes with various azodicarboxylates in excellent yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) within a few minutes.

A series of secondary amine-thiourea catalysts derived from l-proline and chiral diamine were prepared and first applied to highly enantioselective amination of unmodified aldehydes with various azodicarboxylates in excellent yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) within a few minutes.