Synthesis of Enantiopure 1-Aryl-1-butylamines and 1-Aryl-3-butenylamines by Diastereoselective Addition of Allylzinc Bromide to Imines Derived from (R)-Phenylglycine Amide.

The synthesis of enantiopure 1-aryl-1-butylamines via a highly diastereoselective addition of allylzinc bromide to imines derived from (R)-phenylglycine amide is reported. These are synthesised by a three-step procedure, which involves: (a) formation of the chiral imines; (b) asymmetric addition of the allylzinc reagent; (c) removal of the chiral auxiliary by means of a reductive or non-reductive method. The reductive method provides 1-aryl-1-butylamines whereas the non-reductive method preserves the double bond to afford 1-aryl-3-butenylamines. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)