A Facile Stereocontrolled Synthesis of anti-α-(Trifluoromethyl)-β-amino Alcohols

A short stereocontrolled preparation of anti-alpha-(trifluoromethyl)-beta-amino alcohols is described, involving an initial CF(3) transfer to cinnamaldehyde and a one-step, three-component condensation of 3,3,3-trifluorolactic aldehyde, an alkenyl (aryl) boronic acid, and an amine. Applying this methodology to chiral 3,3,3-trifluorolactic aldehyde allowed us to generate an amino alcohol enantioselectively in 92% ee.