Catalytic Asymmetric Construction of Quaternary α‐Amino Acid Containing Pyrrolidines through 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides to α‐Aminoacrylates

Abstract

The first catalytic enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to α-aminoacrylate catalyzed by a AgOAc/ferrocenyl oxazolinylphosphine (FOXAP) system was developed, which exhibits excellent exo- and enantioselectivity (92-99 % ee). This process provides efficient access to useful 4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (APDC)-like compounds containing a unique quaternary α-amino acid unit.