Asymmetric phase-transfer-catalyzed conjugate addition of glycine imine to exocyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones: construction of polycyclic imines containing three stereocenters.

We developed a facile, one-pot, multistep transformation between glycine imine and exocyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones in reactions catalyzed by chiral phase-transfer catalysts (PTC). A series of polycyclic imines containing three adjacent stereocenters were obtained in good to high yields with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Further transformation of the imines could afford N-fused polycyclic compounds with four adjacent stereocenters.