Ag-catalyzed asymmetric Mannich reactions of enol ethers with aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl imines

An efficient catalytic and enantioselective method (up to >98% ee) for Mannich reactions between trimethylsilyl enol ethers derived from acetone and acetophenone and aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and alkyl imines is disclosed. A large variety of β-amino ketones can be synthesized in the presence of 1?5 mol % AgOAc and an inexpensive and readily available amino acid-derived phosphine. All Ag-catalyzed asymmetric Mannich reactions can be run in undistilled THF and air. The o-anisyl activating groups of product amines can be removed in >70% isolated yield through a single vessel operation. The synthetic utility of the catalytic asymmetric method is illustrated by a four-pot synthesis of optically pure alkaloid (?)-sedamine. Copyright © 2004 American Chemical Society.