Highly enantioselective electrophilic amination and michael addition of cyclic beta-ketoesters induced by lanthanides and (S,S)-ip-pybox: the mechanism.

High enantioselection is obtained in Michael additions of cyclic beta-ketoesters in the presence of lanthanium triflates and (S,S)-ip-pybox. Intermediates based on simultaneous coordination of the lanthanide to both (S,S)-ip-box and beta-ketoester (in keto and enolate forms) are detected by means of ESI mass spectrometry and NMR experiments, and a possible mechanism is proposed through theoretical calculations.