A highly enantioselective Strecker reaction catalyzed by titanium-N-salicyl-β-aminoalcohol complexes

N-salicyl-β-amino alcohols were synthesized and evaluated as ligands for catalytic asymmetric Strecker reactions. N-Benzhydrylaldimines derived from aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes reacted with TMSCN in the presence of 10 mol% of complex to give the Strecker products in excellent yields and in up to >98% ee. The presence of a protic additive is essential to ensure good conversion and reaction rate. The reaction conditions are simple and the stereochemical outcome is predictable from the configuration of the ligands, both enantiomers of which are readily synthesized.