A Simple Diastereoselective Synthesis of Chiral Nonracemic Aliphatic Amines

Abstract

An efficient procedure has been developed for the diastereoselective synthesis of chiral aliphatic amines (diastereoisomeric excess >96%) from (1S)-N-(1-methylethylidene)-1-phenylethylamine, i.e., Schiff base derived from the simplest ketone (acetone) and (1S)-1-phenylethylamine. The procedure includes successive lithiation, alkylation, and reduction and is characterized by high regioselectivity in the formation of alkylated syn-Z-imines. Hydride reduction of the prochiral C=N bond in the latter gives mainly optically active aliphatic amines with R configuration. All reactions are performed as a one-pot process without isolation of intermediate products.