Direct asymmetric synthesis of oxazolines from olefins using a chiral nitridomanganese complex: a novel three-component coupling leading to chiral oxazolines

A new synthetic method for chiral oxazolines has been developed by N1 unit transfer to olefins using a chiral nitridomanganese complex. When trans-disubstituted styrenes were treated with chiral complex 1 in the presence of an acid chloride, oxazolines were obtained with high enantioselectivities (up to 92% ee). Furthermore, the produced oxazolines could be easily converted into β-amino alcohols, which are ephedrine derivatives.