Facile preparation of optically pure diamines and their applications in asymmetric aldol reactions

A family of optically pure diamines with tertiary–primary amine motif has been synthesized from optically pure binaphthol and amino acids. The catalysts are highly tunable in structure and has demonstrated high efficiency in direct aldol reactions. Thus, a variety of aldehydes or methyl 2-oxoacetates reacted with acetone in the presence of 10 mol % of catalyst and 20 mol % TFA, furnishing the desired alcohols in up to 99% yield with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee).