Conceptually new chiral tertiary C2 symmetric diamines in asymmetric synthesis

New chiral diamines were prepared, based on the cyclohexane diamine core. The two different substituents on each nitrogen allow this heteroatom to become a stereogenic center upon chelation with a metal, such as lithium. The enantioselective addition of MeLi to imines, with eeʹs up to 68%, illustrates the validity of this concept.