Pd(II)-catalyzed regio-, enantio-, and diastereoselective 1,4-addition of azlactones formed in situ from racemic unprotected amino acids and acetic anhydride.

A multicomponent reaction is reported generating highly enantioenriched and diastereomerically pure quaternary amino acid derivatives via 1,4-addition of azlactones to enones. The azlactone intermediates are generated in situ from unprotected α-amino acids and acetic anhydride. Previous attempts using bis-palladacycle catalysts required the use of a large excess of benzoic anhydride (which is very difficult to remove from the products), since acetic anhydride provided regioisomeric product mixtures. Key for the high regioselectivity is a pentaphenylferrocene monopalladacycle catalyst.