Organocatalytic enantioselective strecker reaction of imines containing a thiazole moiety by using a cinchona-based squaramide catalyst

An organocatalytic enantioselective Strecker reaction was developed for the synthesis of α-amino nitriles that contain a thiazole moiety by using a cinchona-based squaramide catalyst. The corresponding products were obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) by starting from aromatic-substituted imines. In addition, two trifunctional squaramides with amino acid residues were synthesized, and good enantioselectivities (up to 89% ee) were achieved when they were employed in the model reaction.