(2S,5R)-2-Methylaminomethyl-1-methyl-5-phenylpyrrolidine, a chiral diamine ligand for copper(II)-catalysed Henry reactions with superb enantiocontrol.

A cis-2-aminomethyl-5-phenylpyrrolidine, which is easily available from methyl Boc-L-pyroglutamate, was found to be a highly efficient chiral ligand for Cu(II)-catalysed Henry reactions. Excellent yields (>90%) and superb levels of enantiocontrol (98.5-99.6% ee) were reached with aromatic, heteroaromatic, vinylic, and aliphatic aldehydes (36 examples).