Diastereoselective Henry reactions of N,N-dibenzyl α-amino aldehydes with nitromethane catalyzed by enantiopure guanidines

Abstract Several enantiopure guanidines are studied as the catalysts of Henry reactions of N , N -dibenzyl α-amino aldehydes with nitromethane. Good diastereoselectivity is observed in the reactions of l -valine or l -isoleucine derived aldehydes catalyzed by a ( R )-1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine derived guanidine.