Asymmetric copper-catalyzed synthesis of alpha-amino boronate esters from N-tert-butanesulfinyl aldimines.

A general and efficient new method for the asymmetric synthesis of alpha-amino boronate esters has been developed. The key step is the Cu(I)-catalyzed addition of bis(pinacolato)diboron to N-tert-butanesulfinyl aldimines, which proceeds in good yields (52-88%) and with very high diastereoselectivities (>96:2) for a variety of aldimine substrates. This method was applied to an efficient synthesis of bortezomib, a potent alpha-amino boronic acid inhibitor of the proteasome that is in clinical use for the treatment of multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma.