Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of β‐Amino Acid Derivatives by the Lewis Base Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of β‐Enamino Esters

Aryl substituent makes it different: A new general enantioselective hydrosilylation of N‐aryl β‐enamino esters with trichlorosilane has been developed (see scheme). The N‐aryl substituent is crucial for the activity and enantioselectivity. In the presence of catalytic amount of readily accessible chiral N‐picolinoylpyrrolidine derivatives, the reactions proceeded smoothly to provide various chiral β‐amino esters in good yields (≤97 %) and moderate to excellent enantioselectivities (≤96 % ee).