Access to Chiral Cyclic β-Enaminones via Enantioselective Imine Condensation.

We report herein an unprecedented catalytic enantioselective synthesis of cyclic β-enaminones from simple meso-1,3-diketones via chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed desymmetrization through imine condensation. This transformation provides efficient access to a broad array of cyclic β-enaminones and acridinones bearing a remote β-stereogenic center, delivering products in excellent yields and enantioselectivities under mild conditions with a straightforward protocol. Furthermore, the resulting β-enaminones can undergo one-step derivatizations to furnish diverse enantioenriched carbo- and heterocycles, highlighting their high potential for applications in medicinal chemistry.