Direct asymmetric hydroxyamination reaction catalyzed by an axially chiral secondary amine catalyst.

A direct asymmetric hydroxyamination reaction of aldehydes with nitrosobenzene was found to be catalyzed by the novel axially chiral secondary amine catalyst (S)-1d. The resulting optically enriched hydroxyamination products were readily converted to beta-amino alcohols or 1,2-diamines in one pot.