Cinchona Alkaloid‐catalyzed Asymmetric Direct Mannich Reaction of Malononitrile to Imine for Synthesis of <i>β</i>‐Amino Malononitrile

Abstract

Abstract The first direct asymmetric Mannich reaction of malononitrile to N ‐Boc‐protected imines has been developed with cinchona alkaloid as catalyst. The procedure could tolerate a relatively wide range of substrates, and results in excellent yields and good enantioselectivities even in the presence of only 1 mol% of catalyst loading. The present work provides an easy access to β ‐amino malononitrile derivatives.