Brönsted-Acid-Catalyzed Asymmetric Three-Component Reaction of Amines, Aldehydes, and Pyruvate Derivatives. Enantioselective Synthesis of Highly Functionalized γ-Lactam Derivatives.

Chiral phosphoric acids are efficient organocatalysts for the asymmetric three-component reaction of amines, aldehydes, and pyruvate derivatives. Simultaneous condensation of amines with both carbonylic compounds followed by a hydrogen bonding activated nucleophilic addition of enamines to imines affords densely functionalized enantioenriched 1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-ones. These substrates can be used in subsequent diastereoselective transformations to afford enantiopure γ-lactam derivatives.