Remarkable Reaction Rate and Excellent Enantioselective Direct α-Amination of Aldehydes with Azodicarboxylates Catalyzed by Pyrrolidinylcamphor-Derived Organocatalysts

Remarkable reaction rate and excellent enantioselective direct alpha-amination of unmodified aldehydes with various azodicarboxylates was catalyzed by pyrrolidinylcamphor organocatalyst 2a (5 mol-%) to provide the desired aminated products with excellent chemical yields and high to excellent levels of enantioselectivity (up to > 99 % ee) at 0 degrees C in CH2Cl2.