Polymeric chiral phase-transfer catalysts derived from cinchona alkaloids for enantioselective synthesis of α-amino acids

A series of dimeric/trimeric chiral quaternary ammonium salts derived from cinchona alkaloids were designed as efficient and practical chiral phase-transfer catalysts (PTCs). Presented are the details on the development of the dimeric PTCs for the synthesis of optically active α-amino acid derivatives and the optimization of the reaction variables suitable for the dimeric PTCs. The 1,3-phenyl- and the 2,7-naphthyl-linked dimeric PTCs showed excellent catalytic capability on the reactivity and enantioselectivity in the catalytic phase-transfer alkylation of N-(diphenylmethylene)glycine tert-butyl ester (1). A variety of α-amino acid derivatives were obtained with high enantiopurities using the dimeric PTCs, especially the 2,7-naphthyl-dimer 41, in a very practical manner.