Multicomponent Cascade Reactions of Unprotected Ketoses and Amino Acids – Access to a Defined Configured Quaternary Stereogenic Center

A highly stereoselective multicomponent cascade reaction of ketones with unprotected amino acids was developed. This operationally simple methodology was expanded to reactions of unprotected ketohexoses and unprotected amino acids. By the careful choice of amino acid and isonitrile, an optional access to all possible enantiomers is given.