Catalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of aromatic amines to fumarate derivatives: asymmetric synthesis of aspartic acid derivatives

The catalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of aromatic amines to fumarate derivatives promoted by chiral palladium complexes is described. Treatment of aniline derivatives with fumaryl pyrrolidinone as Michael acceptor under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding chiral aspartic acid derivatives with excellent enantiomeric excesses (83–96% ee).