Facile preparation of optically pure diamines and their applications in asymmetric aldol reactions

A family of optically pure diamines with tertiary-primary amine motif has been synthesized from optically pure binaphthol and amino acids. The catalysts are highly tunable in structure and has demonstrated high efficiency in direct aldol reactions. Thus, a variety of aldehydes or methyl 2-oxoacetates reacted with acetone in the presence of 10 mol % of catalyst and 20 mol % TFA, furnishing the desired alcohols in up to 99% yield with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee).

Graphical abstractA family of optically pure diamines with tertiary-primary amine motif has been synthesized and has demonstrated high efficiency in direct aldol reactions.Download full-size image