Enantioselective Addition of Thiols to Acyclic Ketiminoesters Using Cinchona Alkaloid Amide/Zinc(II) Catalysts

Abstract The first enantioselective reaction of acyclic α ‐ketiminoesters with thiols has been developed. Good yields and enantioselectivities were obtained using our original cinchona alkaloid amide/zinc(II) catalysts. The obtained products were converted into useful chiral thiazolidines. Based on experimental results and DFT calculation, transition states were proposed to explain the stereoselectivity of the reaction.