Synthesis of highly enantioenriched chiral alpha-aminoorganotins via diastereoselective ring opening of chiral N-(arenesulfonyl) 2-tributylstannyloxazolidines.

trans-N-(Arenesulfonyl)-2-tributylstannyloxazolidines derived from (R)-phenylglycinol were diastereoselectively ring-opened by soft organometallic reagents in the presence of BF(3).OEt(2). Both higher order organocuprates and allyltributyltin afforded the desired products in good-to-excellent yields and high diastereoselectivities (dr up to 99/1). The stereochemical assignments of tributylstannyl-beta-aminoalcohols were firmly established from NMR data and after determination of several radiocrystallographic structures. Mechanisms were proposed in order to rationalize the observed selectivities.