Visible-light-driven asymmetric aldol reaction of ketones and glycinates via synergistic Lewis acid/photoredox catalysis.

Visible-light-driven direct asymmetric α-C(sp3)-H bond functionalization of glycinate provides a direct and efficient route for the synthesis of diverse optically enriched α-amino acid derivatives. However, asymmetric coupling between glycinate radical species and ketones faces significant challenges, including competitive pathways, mutable intermediates, as well as congested stereogenic centers. Herein, we disclose the first example for the asymmetric photocatalytic synthesis of a diverse array of β-diaryl-β-hydroxy-α-amino acetate derivatives from glycinates and heteroaryl ketones through the synergistic catalysis of achiral iridium photoredox catalyst and chiral lanthanide Lewis acid catalysts. The enantioselective radical addition pathway is supported by spectroscopic experiments, control experiments and DFT calculations.