Diastereoselective reductive Mannich-type coupling of acrylates and aldimines with Rh(Phebox) catalyst

The conjugate reduction of α,β-unsaturated esters such as acrylates, crotonate, and cinnamates followed by Mannich-type coupling toward aldimines was efficiently promoted by rhodium-bis(oxazolinyl)phenyl catalyst and alkoxyhydrosilanes to show high anti-selectivity up to 99.