Application of N-anthracenylmethyl dihydrocinchonidinium bromide as a catalyst for the enantioselective alkylation of a series of alanine-derived imines is reported. Using solid K2CO3/KOH as the stochiometric base such alkylations can be achieved with enantiomeric excesses up to 87% allowing rapid access to alpha,alpha-dialkyl-alpha-amino acid esters. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.