Enantioselective Aminomethylation of 1-(Benzyloxy)propan-2-one with 4-Methyl-2-[(prop-2-en-1-yl)oxy]aniline

Three-component enantioselective catalytic aminomethylation of 1-(benzyloxy)propan-2-one with 4-methyl-2-[(prop-2-en-1-yl)oxy]aniline in aqueous medium in the presence of pseudoephedrine as a chiral catalyst afforded the corresponding anti/syn products, optically pure amino keto ethers of the aromatic series, in high yields. The product structure was confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR and mass spectra, and their diastereo­isomeric purity (de) was determined by chiral HPLC. The described reaction can also be used to form new C–C bond.