Direct catalytic asymmetric aminoallylation of aldehydes: synergism of chiral and nonchiral Brønsted acids.

The development of a catalytic asymmetric method for the direct aminoallylation of aldehydes is described that gives high asymmetric inductions for a broad range of substrates including both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. This method allows for direct isolation of unprotected analytically pure homoallylic amines without chromatography. The unique catalyst system developed for this process involves the synergistic interaction between a chiral and a nonchiral Brønsted acid.