Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of alpha-amino phosphonates using enantioselective carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions

We have developed highly enantioselelctive reactions of silicon enolates with N-acyl-alpha-iminophosphonates leading to optically active alpha-amino phophonates. A copper (II)-diamine complex was shown to be effective in this reaction, and high levels of yield and selectivity were achieved. It is noteworthy that this reaction opens a way to various biologically important, optically active alpha-amino phosphonate derivatives.