An efficient synthetic approach towards a single diastereomer of (2R,3R)-N2,N3-bis((S)-1-phenylethyl)butane-2,3-diamine via metalation and demetalation

A facile synthetic approach has been adopted towards the synthesis of (2R,3R)-N-2,N-3-bis((S)-1-phenylethyl)butane-2,3-diamine via demetalation of its dichloro Zn(II) complex, which itself was separated from a mixture of diastereomeric Zn(II) complexes by fractional crystallization. The synthesized chiral 1,2-diamine ligand was evaluated as a chiral auxiliary for the Cu(II)-catalysed asymmetric Henry reaction of 3-phenylpropanal and nitromethane, yielding (S)-1-nitro-4-phenylbutan-2-ol in excellent yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivities (up to 97%). Graphic abstract A facile synthetic approach towards (2R,3R)-N-2,N-3-bis((S)-1-phenylethyl)butane-2,3-diamine (2b) via fractional crystallization and demetalation of its Zn(II) complex has been adopted. 2b served as a highly enantioselective pro-ligand with Cu(OAc)(2) for asymmetric Henry reaction of 3-phenylpropanal and nitromethane in the presence of base with 97% > ee and 99% yield.