Catalytic enantioselective N-nitroso aldol reaction of γ,δ-unsaturated δ-lactones.

A catalytic asymmetric N-nitroso aldol reaction of γ,δ-didehydro-δ-lactones with nitrosoarenes was achieved using chiral tin dibromide as the chiral precatalyst and sodium ethoxide as the base precatalyst in the presence of ethanol. Optically active α-hydroxyamino ketones with up to 99% ee were regioselectively obtained in moderate to high yields from various δ-aryl-substituted γ,δ-didehydro-δ-valerolactones and o-substituted nitrosoarenes.