Copper(I)-Fesulphos Lewis Acid catalysts for enantioselective Mannich-type reaction of N-sulfonyl imines

reaction: see text] Copper(I) complexes of Fesulphos ligands are efficient chiral Lewis acid catalysts in the Mannich-type addition of silyl enol ethers of ketones, esters, and thioesters to N-(2-thienyl)sulfonyl aldimines. The corresponding optically active beta-amino carbonyl derivatives were obtained in good yields (58-91%) and with moderate to good enantioselectivity (61-93% ee). Removal of the N-activating group was achieved under mild conditions by simple treatment of the products with Mg in methanol.