Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of α‐Chiral Azaheteroaryl Ethylamines by Asymmetric Protonation

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Abstract
The direct enantioselective synthesis of chiral azaheteroaryl ethylamines from vinyl‐substituted N‐heterocycles and anilines is reported. A chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) catalyst promotes dearomatizing aza‐Michael addition to give a prochiral exocyclic aryl enamine, which undergoes asymmetric protonation upon rearomatization. The reaction accommodates a broad range of N‐heterocycles, nucleophiles, and substituents on the prochiral centre, generating the products in high enantioselectivity. DFT studies support a facile nucleophilic addition based on catalyst‐induced LUMO lowering, with site‐selective, rate‐limiting, intramolecular asymmetric proton transfer from the ion‐paired prochiral intermediate.
Funding Information
  • Leverhulme Trust (RPG-2015-308)
  • GlaxoSmithKline

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