Highly enantioselective alkylation of carbon–nitrogen double bonds. Catalytic and stoichiometric asymmetric synthesis of optically active amines by the enantioselective addition of dialkylzinc reagents to N-diphenylphosphinoylimines

The first highly enantioselective alkylation of carbon–nitrogen double bonds (of N-diphenylphosphinoylimines) with dialkylzinc reagents promoted by chiral amino alcohols afforded optically active phosphoramides (precursors of amines) in up to 91% enantiomeric excess.