Diastereoselective synthesis of enantioenriched homopropargyl amino alcohols from α-dibenzylamino aldehydes and their use as chiral synthons

Homochiral α-dibenzylamino aldehydes, prepared from the corresponding α-amino acids, react with propargyl bromide and zinc in DMF/THF (1:1) or DMF/Et₂O (1:1) at 20 °C to afford, in good yields and dr, homopropargylic 1,2-amino alcohols. anti Diastereomers were always formed as major products in this reaction. These compounds are versatile intermediates for a variety of synthetic targets: γ-amino-β-hydroxy-ketones, 4-amino-1,3-diols, 1,7-diamino-2,6-diols, and ω-amino-δ-hydroxy esters.