Enantioselective direct Mannich reaction of functionalized acetonitrile to N-Boc imines catalyzed by quaternary phosphonium catalysis

Quaternary phosphonium ion-pair or a salt derived from amino acid has been developed to catalyze the Mannich-type reaction of α-substituted ethyl cyanoacetates and 2-(2-nitrophenyl) acetonitrile to N-Boc imines. Experiments shown that more active cyanoacetates could be catalyzed by the gentle phosphonium ion-pair catalysis, while 2-(2-nitrophenyl) acetonitrile as the substrate has to be activated by quaternary phosphonium salts and strong base. All the reactions gave the corresponding highly functionalized chiral β-amino nitriles products with good yields, high diastereo- and enantioselectivities in mild conditions.

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