The present study reports the organocatalytic enantioselective allylic amination of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbamates efficiently catalyzed by a chiral amine in the presence of a Bronsted acid. Chiral allylic amines were produced in high yields (up to 98%) and enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee).
This method provides an efficient and easily performed route to prepare alpha-methylene beta-lactams, and other optically active beta-lactams, such as the cholesterol-lowering drug Ezetimibe.