The first example of enamine-Lewis acid cooperative bifunctional catalysis: application to the asymmetric aldol reaction.

(-)-Sparteine directed lithiation of N-Boc-pyrrolidine, alkylation with chloromethylboronate pinacol ester and acid-based deprotection provides homoboroproline HX salt in 94% ee, which is then an efficient enamine-type pyrrolidine catalyst in an asymmetric aldol reaction when neutralised and especially when esterified in situ with a tartrate ester, for example, providing 90% ee of the aldol adduct derived from acetone and p-nitrobenzaldehyde.

A (-)-sparteine-directed highly enantioselective synthesis of boroproline. Solid- and solution-state structure and properties.

A two-step, direct asymmetric synthesis of the trifluoroacetate ammonium salt of boroproline is reported. (-)-Sparteine-mediated lithiation of N-Boc-pyrrolidine afforded N-Boc-aminoboronic acid in good yield and enantioselectivity as determined by HPLC (pinanediol ester). Deprotection using TFA yielded the ammonium salt; full characterization data are presented, and the structure in aqueous solution and the occurrence of a B-N species are discussed.