Enantioselective hydration of α-aminonitriles using chiral carbonyl catalysts

Abstract

(±)-α-Amino-β-phenylpropionitrile was hydrated enantioselectively, in a basic aqueous medium, using (–)-5β-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-3α-cyano-2α-methylcyclohexanone as a chiral catalyst 6, with 42% enantiomeric excess at half completion.