Synthesis of Chiral Sulfonimidamides and Application in Asymmetric Henry Reaction

Significance

Sulfonimidamides, the aza-analogues of sulfonamides, have been of interests as chiral nitrene precursors and due to their bioactivities. However, their application as chiral ligands in asymmetric metal catalysis has not yet been fully explored. The authors have developed two synthetic routes for the synthesis of enantiopure ­amino-functionalized sulfonimidamides 4 from readily available materials. These compounds have been successfully employed as chiral ligands in asymmetric copper-catalyzed Henry reactions to afford good yields and up to 95% ee.