Schiffs bases are used that carry two ortho-substituents in either aromatic ring. Under these conditions the Mannich adducts are formed in preparatively useful yields and with excellent stereoselectivity (diastereomer ratio in general >99:1). The chiral auxiliary group is readily removed by 1) cleavage of the phthaloyl imide via reduction with NaBH4 and acid hydrolysis followed by 2) Edman degradation