Asymmetric synthesis of β-amino carbonyl compounds with N-sulfinyl β-amino Weinreb amides

Diverse organometallic reagents readily add to enantiopure N-sulfinyl beta-amino Weinreb amides providing the corresponding, stable, N-sulfinyl beta-amino carbonyl compounds in good to excellent yields. This new methodology represents a general solution to the problem of P-amino carbonyl syntheses, which are important chiral building blocks and constituents of natural products. N-Sulfinyl beta-amino Weinreb amides are prepared by reaction of the potassium enolate of N-methoxy N-methylacetamide with sulfinimines (N-sulfinyl imines) or lithium NO-dimethylhydroxylamine with N-sulfinyl P-amino esters.