Highly enantioselective synthesis of fluorinated gamma-amino alcohols through proline-catalyzed cross-Mannich reaction.

A new, simple route for the synthesis of fluorinated beta-alkyl gamma-amino alcohols in optically pure form in only two steps and featuring proline catalysis from inexpensive and readily available starting materials is described. The applied strategy allows for the introduction of diversity into both the beta-fluoroalkyl and alpha-alkyl groups of these compounds. [reaction: see text]