The Mannich reaction of variously substituted (+)-(S,S)-pseudoephedrine amides with either enolizable and nonenolizable imines smoothly afforded a series of β-substituted α-alkyl-β-amino amides with full stereochemical control. These Mannich adducts have been converted into several synthetically useful chiral building blocks like β-amino esters, β-amino acids, and β-lactams using very simple and high-yielding
Stereocontrolled Mannich Reaction with Enolizable Imines Using (<i>S</i>,<i>S</i>)-(<i>+</i>)-Pseudoephedrine as Chiral Auxiliary. Asymmetric Synthesis of α,β-Disubstituted β-Aminoesters and β-Lactams