A new multipurpose glycine equivalent for the general asymmetric synthesis of α‐amino acids is introduced. The chiral reagent can be transformed to various amino acids by alkylations with alkyl halides as well as aldol and Michael addition reactions under operationally convenient reaction conditions at room temperature with virtually complete stereochemical control.
Stereochemically inert and positively charged chiral complexes of cobalt(III) prepared from Schiff bases derived from chiral diamines and salicylaldehydes were shown to be efficient catalysts of the benchmark asymmetric phase‐transfer Michael addition of nine activated olefins to O’Donnell’s substrate. The reaction products had enantiomeric purities of up to 96%. DFT calculations were invoked to rationalize the stereochemistry of the addition.
