Chiral salen-aluminum complex as a catalyst for enantioselective alpha-addition of isocyanides to aldehydes: asymmetric synthesis of 2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-5-aminooxazoles.

In the presence of a catalytic amount of (salen)Al(III)Cl complex (4e), reaction between alpha-isocyanoacetamides (1) and aldehydes (2) afforded the corresponding 5-aminooxazoles (3) in good yields and enantioselectivity.