Enantioselective synthesis of β-lactams via the IndaBox-Cu(II)-catalyzed Kinugasa reaction

The enantioselective Kinugasa reaction of nitrones with terminal alkynes in the presence of 20 mol % of IndaBox-Cu(OTf)2 and di-sec-butylamine (1.5 equiv) produced β-lactams with the highest level of enantiomeric excesses among the catalytic enantioselective Kinugasa reactions reported so far.

The highest level of enantioselectivity (79-94% ees) was attained in the catalytic Kinugasa reaction using the Cu(OTf)2-IndaBox complex.