Synthesis of β-Amino Ketones by Addition of Aryl Methyl Ketones to Sulfinimines: Application to the Total Synthesis of HPA-12, Norsedamine, and Sedamine.

Synthesis of β-sulfinamido ketones was accomplished by the addition of silyl enol ethers derived from arylmethyl ketones to chiral sulfinimines in excellent yield and selectivity. Application of the formed β-amino substituted ketones is exemplified in the total synthesis of sphingolipid HPA-12 and the sedamine alkaloids.