Highly stereoselective metal-free catalytic reduction of imines: an easy entry to enantiomerically pure amines and natural and unnatural alpha-amino esters.

A highly efficient catalytic stereoselective ketimine reduction is described. The combination of an inexpensive chiral organocatalyst, easily prepared in a single step, and of a very cheap removable chiral auxiliary allowed us to obtain enantiomerically pure amino compounds. The methodology allowed synthesis of chiral secondary and primary amines and natural and unnatural amino esters in high yields often with total control of the absolute stereochemistry.