A Catalytic Enantioselective Aza‐Michael Reaction: Novel Protocols for Asymmetric Synthesis of β‐Amino Carbonyl Compounds

Abstract β‐Amino carbonyl functionalities are ubiquitous motifs in natural and nonnatural products such as alkaloids and poly‐ketides. Among the reactions for the synthesis of β‐amino car‐bonyl compounds and β‐substituted β‐amino acids, aza‐Michael reactions using catalytic amounts of chiral Lewisacids might provide the best methods for the generation of optically active β‐amino carbonyl compounds. During the last five years, the asymmetric aza‐Michael reaction has emerged as a very powerful tool for the synthesis of chiral β‐amino carbonyl compounds, as will be discussed in this microreview. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)