Zinc-Mediated Stereoselective Barbier Allylation of N-Carbethoxy-(alpha)-amino Ketones in Aqueous Solution

Zinc-mediated aqueous allylic Barbier reaction of N-carbethoxy-(alpha)-amino phenylketones was carried out with good diastereoselectivity (up to 95% de), leading to vicinal amino alcohols. The corresponding reaction using N-carbethoxy-(alpha)-amino methyl­ketones did not present good facial diastereoselectivity.