Catalytic enantioselective addition of dialkylzinc to N-diphenylphosphinoylimines. A practical synthesis of alpha-chiral amines.

The enantioselective addition of dialkylzinc reagents to N-diphenylphosphinoylimines derived from aryl-, furyl-, and cyclopropylaldehydes is efficiently catalyzed by a copper(II) triflate/(R,R)-MeDUPHOS complex. The yields are high (51-98%), and the enantiomeric excesses vary from 85 to 96%. This route provides a practical route to alpha-chiral amines.