Water-promoted highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of α-dehydro-β-amino esters and nitriles from Baylis-Hillman acetates

The nucleophilic addition of amines to Baylis-Hillman acetates has been efficiently carried out in water at room temperature in the absence of any base, acid, or metal catalyst to produce α-dehydro-β-amino esters and nitriles. This procedure addresses a variety of aliphatic open-chain and cyclic amines and anilines. All the reactions are highly regio- and stereoselective, fast and high yielding.