Highly Enantioselective Pictet–Spengler Reactions with α‐Ketoamide‐Derived Ketimines: Access to an Unusual Class of Quaternary α‐Amino Amides

“ Quat's” the story? N‐Aryl amides are effective directing/activating groups for chlorosilane Lewis acids. This aspect has been exploited for the development of the first simple and general method for the highly enantioselective Pictet–Spengler reaction of ketimines derived from α‐ketoamides leading to quaternary α‐amino acid derivatives (see scheme).