A facile enantioselective synthesis of (S)-N-(5-chlorothiophene-2-sulfonyl)-β,β-diethylalaninol via proline-catalyzed asymmetric α-aminooxylation and α-amination of aldehyde

A high-yielding enantioselective synthesis of the bioactive (S)-N-(5-chlorothiophene-2-sulfonyl)-β,β-diethylalaninol (1), a Notch-1-sparing γ-secretase inhibitor metabolite (with EC50 = 28 nM) effective in reduction of Aβ production in vivo, has been realized starting from readily available 3-pentanone. The key steps of the synthesis are proline-catalyzed α-aminooxylation and α-amination of aldehyde; the latter contributing an overall yield of 45.2% and 98% ee.