Esters, conjugated, reaction with imine-amines

The second reaction starts with nucleophilic attack by the amine on the more electrophilic carbonyl group - the ketone. Imine formation is followed by cyclization and this second step is i normal nucleophilic substitution at the carbonyl group of an ester (Chapter 12). The imine double bond moves into the ring to secure conjugation with the ester. 

E)-Allylic amines. Reaction of the lithiated methylphosphonate ester with a nitrile, followed by addition of an aldehyde, furnishes a conjugated imine with an ( )-configuration. Immediate reduction (e.g., with NaBH4) gives the allylic amine. 

A short synthesis of (-f)-monomorine (1562) by Maruoka and coworkers used the chiral phase-transfer catalyst (R)-1672 to mediate an enantioselective conjugate addition between enone 1673 and the imine-protected glycine ester 1674 (Scheme 213). In a remarkable one-pot reaction, the intermediate adduct 1675 was then treated with Hantzsch ester (diethyl 2,6-dimethyl-l,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate) in mildly acidic medium, which brought about deprotection of the acetal and imine as well as a double reductive amination in which the dihydropyridine acted as the hydrogen transfer agent. The resulting indolizidine ester (—)-1676 was... 

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