Catalytic Asymmetric Strecker Synthesis. Preparation of Enantiomerically Pure α-Amino Acid Derivatives from Aldimines and Tributyltin Cyanide or Achiral Aldehydes, Amines, and Hydrogen Cyanide Using a Chiral Zirconium Catalyst
Strecker amino acid synthesis starting from achiral aldehydes, amines, and HCN using a chiral zirconium catalyst has also been achieved. The three-component asymmetric process reported here significantly improves upon the original Strecker reaction, and has advantages over previous reactions using unstable imines (Schiffbases) as starting materials. Moreover, high yields and enantioselectivities have