An air-stable chiral Hf-based catalyst for asymmetric Mannich-type reactions

A new class of isolable, air-stable, storable, and Hf-based catalyst has been developed. In the presence of 10 mol % of the powdered Hf catalyst, the asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of imines with silicon enolates derived from esters proceeded smoothly to afford the corresponding Mannich-type adducts in high yields with high enantioselectivities. Hafnium single crystals for X-ray analysis were obtained, and the crystals also showed high performance in the asymmetric Mannich-type reactions.