γ-Amino alcohols via organocascade reactions involving dienamine catalysis.

Whereas cascade reactions catalyzed by secondary amines combine iminium- and/or enamine-catalyzed reactions, we introduce the feasibility of combining these modes of catalysis with dienamine-catalysis as a new general mechanism for cascade reactions. Enantioenriched β-functionalized-γ-amino alcohols were produced from simple achiral enals in one flask by combining dienamine- and iminium-catalyzed intermolecular reactions. Reaction products are precursors of γ-amino acids, γ-lactams, and pyrrolidines; one was employed in a synthesis of γ-amino acid (S)-vigabatrin, the bioactive enantiomer of Sabril.