Asymmetric Synthesis of Less Accessible α-Tertiary Amines from Alkynyl Z-Ketimines.

A highly stereoselective synthesis of hitherto less accessible chiral α-tertiary amines with multiple structurally similar linear carbon chains was achieved through chiral auxiliary mediated addition of organolithium reagents to the geometrically well-controlled alkynyl Z-ketimines. This stereoselective nucleophilic addition offers a general approach to the asymmetric synthesis of nitrogen-containing chiral materials.