Organocatalytic Asymmetric Decarboxylative Amination of β‑Keto Acids: Access to Optically Active α‑Amino Ketones and 1,2-Amino Alcohols

An organocatalytic asymmetric decarboxylative
amination reaction
of β-keto acids is described. Under mild reaction conditions,
a series of chiral α-amino ketones were obtained in good to
high yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee). A
chiral 1,2-amino alcohol was synthesized from the corresponding decarboxylative
amination product in several steps without loss of enantioselectivity.