Copper‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Three‐Component Synthesis of Optically Active Propargylamines from Aldehydes, Amines, and Aliphatic Alkynes

Enantioselective three-component synthesis of propargylamines from aldehydes, amines, and aliphatic alkynes was catalyzed by a CuI complex of 1,3-bis(imidazolin-2-ly)pyridine (pybim). The reaction is applied to a wide variety of aromatic aldehydes and alkynes to give products with excellent yields (up to 93 %) and enantiomeric excess (up to 98 % ee) (see scheme; Bz=benzoyl, OTf=trifluoromethanesulfonate).