Organocatalytic Asymmetric Decarboxylative Mannich Reaction for the Synthesis of Non‐natural α‐Amino Acids Bearing Akynyl Groups

Abstract

Asymmetric decarboxylative Mannich addition of β‐keto acids or malonic acid half‐esters to β,γ‐alkynyl‐α‐ketimino esters catalyzed by cinchona alkaloid‐derived squaramide has been developed. The reaction proceeded by forming a nucleophilic enolate after decarboxylation, followed by its addition to β,γ‐alkynyl‐α‐ketimino esters facilitated by the bifunctional catalyst. A broad range of substrates with various substituents are tolerated in this reaction, yielding a series of α,α‐disubstituted amino acid derivatives bearing alkynyl functional groups in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities. The practicality of this method was demonstrated by a gram‐scale reaction and subsequent elaboration of the Mannich adducts.