Patent ID: 8097750

Claim:
A method of forming a chiral non-racemic amine, comprising the step of: combining in a halohydrocarbon solvent a nucleophile selected from the group consisting of malonates and keto esters, a base selected from the group consisting of carbonates and hydroxides, a chiral non-racemic catalyst, and a substrate selected from the group consisting of N-alkoxycarbonyl imine, N-aryloxycarbonyl imine, N-alkenyloxycarbonyl imine, N-aralkoxycarbonyl imine, and N-aralkenyloxycarbonyl imine; wherein said chiral non-racemic catalyst is (DHQ) 2 PHAL, (DHQD) 2 PHAL, (DHQ) 2 PYR, (DHQD) 2 PYR, (DHQ) 2 AQN, (DHQD) 2 AQN, DHQ-CLB, DHQD-CLB, DHQ-MEQ, DHQD-MEQ, DHQ-AQN, DHQD-AQN, DHQ-PHN, DHQD-PHN, QD-PH, QD-AN, QD-NT, QD-AC, QD-CH, QD-IP, QD-(−)-MN, QD-AD, Q-PH, Q-AN, Q-NT, Q-CH, Q-AC, Q-IP, Q-(−)-MN, Q-AD, 9-thiourea Q or 9-thiourea QD; said chiral non-racemic catalyst catalyzes the addition of said nucleophile to said substrate to give a chiral non-racemic amine; the enantiomeric excess or diastereomeric excess of the chiral non-racemic amine is greater than about 90%; and the method is performed at a temperature in the range of −20° C. to 50° C.