Chiral bifunctional organocatalysts in asymmetric aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reactions of ethyl (arylimino)acetates with methyl vinyl ketone and ethyl vinyl ketone.

The bifunctional chiral phosphine Lewis base (R)-2'-diphenylphosphino-[1,1'-binaphthalene]-2-ol is an effective organocatalyst in the asymmetric aza-MBH reaction of ethyl (arylimino)acetates 1 with MVK and EVK to give the corresponding adducts in moderate to good yields and good to high enantiomeric excesses under mild conditions.