Diastereoselective Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Mannich-Type Reactions of Alkylnitriles with a Ni(II)-Carbene Complex.

Despite recent advances in reactions using alkylnitriles as carbon nucleophiles, diastereoselective direct catalytic asymmetric reactions, in which two consecutive chiral centers could be controlled, remain largely unexplored. Herein, we report the addition of alkylnitriles (such as propionitrile) to imines in the presence of a catalytic amount of a chiral pincer-type Ni-carbene complex and potassium 2,6-di- tert -butyl-4-methylphenoxide (KBHT). BHT and molecular sieves were used as additives to improve the yields, diastereoselectivity, and enantiomeric ratio up to >99%, 90:10 anti / syn , and 97.5:2.5 er, respectively. The Mannich adducts can be readily converted to the corresponding β-amino acids.