Three component condensation of a Betti-type - efficient tool for synthesis of chiral naphthoxazines and aminobenzylnaphthols for enantioselective diethylzinc addition to aldehydes

2-Naphthol, formaldehyde and chiral amines have been applied in three component Betti-type condensation to provide chiral 1,3-naphthoxazines in excellent yields. The latter have been easily transformed to chiral N-methyl aminobenzylnaphthols through reaction with lithium aluminum hydride. The chiral aminobenzylnaphthols are active catalyst (ligands) for enantioselective diethylzinc addition to aldehydes providing secondary alcohols in good yields only up to a moderate degree of enantioselectivity.