Organocatalytic and Highly Stereoselective Direct Vinylogous Mannich Reaction

The first direct asymmetric vinylogous Mannich (AVM) reaction of α,α-dicyanoolefins and N-Boc aldimines was described promoted by a simple chiral bifunctional thiourea-tertairy amine organocatalyst. The reaction was highly efficient (S/C up to 1000) and regio-, stereoselective (generally >99% de, 96 to >99.5% ee) at room temperature for a broad array of substrates. Enantiomerically pure δ-amino acid could be smoothly prepared from the adduct.