Organocatalytic mannich-type reactions of trifluoroethyl thioesters

Direct organocatalytic Mannich-type reactions of thioesters provide for the expedient and diastereoselective synthesis of protected beta-amino acids. A variety of thioesters were found to be reactive with different imines under mild conditions to provide beta-amino acids in good yields. This chemistry was extended to a diastereo- and enantioselective variant.

Carbohydrates as Synthetic Tools in Organic Chemistry

While amino acids, terpenes and alkaloids have found broad application as tools in stereoselective organic synthesis, carbohydrates have only lately been recognised as versatile starting materials for chiral auxiliaries, reagents, ligands and organocatalysts. The structural diversity of carbohydrates and the high density of functional groups offer a wide variety of opportunities for derivatization and tailoring of synthetic tools to a specific problem.