ASYMMETRIC ACYL-STRECKER REACTION PROMOTED BY NOVEL THIOUREA ORGANOCATALYST

Asymmetric acyl-Strecker reaction using novel thiourea organocatalyst is described. Screening experiments of the catalysts revealed that a bifunctional organocatalyst afforded an enantio-enriched product via an unique mechanism. That is, dihydroisoquinoline derivatives were converted to a corresponding 1-cyano-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines using the bifunctional thiourea catalyst derived from Betti base in moderate yield and enantioselectivity.