Solvent-Free Synthesis of a Secondary N-Benzhydrylamine as a Chiral Reagent for Asymmetric Deprotonation of Bicyclic N-Benzylamino Ketones

Abstract

Several chiral secondary N-benzhydrylamines were synthesized in good yields (68–92%) without racemization by the direct alkylation of amines with benzhydryl chloride under solvent-free conditions. Using the solvent-free conditions (R)-N-benzhydryl-1-phenylethylamine was obtained with the highest yield (92%), purified on ion-exchange resin, and converted to its hydrochloride salt. The resulting chiral amine hydrochloride was transformed into lithium amide/lithium chloride mixture used in asymmetric deprotonations of N-benzyl analogues of tropinone and granatanone followed by aldol reactions giving products in high ­diastereomeric purities (up to 96%) and enantiomeric excesses of 77 to 96%.

Key words

aldol reaction - N-alkylation - asymmetric synthesis - amines - enantioselectivity

• References

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