Catalytic enantioselective amination of silyl enol ethers using chiral dirhodium(II) carboxylates: asymmetric formal synthesis of (-)-metazocine.

Dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N-tetrafluorophthaloyl-(S)-tert-leucinate], Rh2(S-TFPTTL)4, is an exceptionally efficient catalyst for enantioselective aminations of silyl enol ethers derived from acyclic ketones or alpha,beta-enones with [N-(2-nitrophenylsulfonyl)imino]phenyliodinane (NsN=IPh), providing N-(2-nitrophenylsulfonyl)-alpha-amino ketones in high yields and with enantioselectivities of up to 95% ee. The effectiveness of the present catalytic protocol has been demonstrated by an asymmetric formal synthesis of (-)-metazocine.