Chemoselective activation of aldimine in preference to aldehyde by the combination of BF3?OEt2 and water: Novel catalyst for the mannich-type reaction

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/cl.1999.947

Reported herein are that catalytic amount of conventional Lewis acids activated aldimines in preference to aldehydes, and addition of water to BF₃?OEt₂ accelerated the Mannich-type reaction significantly to afford β-amino carbonyl compounds in high yields.