Asymmetric Mannich reaction of imines derived from aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by diarylprolinol silyl ether

Anti Mannich, try this! A direct asymmetric Mannich reaction catalyzed by a diarylprolinol silyl ether was developed to afford the anti-Mannich product with excellent enantioselectivity. Imines derived from both aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes were successfully used to obtain the synthetically important β-amino aldehydes (see scheme; Ts=tosyl). The reaction can also be performed in the presence of water.