Asymmetric imine-ene reactions: Diastereofacial selective reactions with chiral glyoxylate-derivedα-imino esters and asymmetric catalysis of enantiofacial selective reactions with prochiralα-imino esters

The diastereofacial selective “imine-ene” reactions withα-imino esters, prepared from (−)-8-phenylmenthyl glyoxylate, are shown to provide an efficient entry to the asymmetric synthesis ofα-amino acids. The feasibility study of the asymmetric catalysis is also reported on the enantiofacial selective ene reactions with prochiralα-imino esters.