Primary amino acid catalyzed asymmetric intramolecular Mannich reaction for the synthesis of 2-aryl-2,3-dihydro-4-quinolones.

Primary amino acids are found to be good enantioselective catalysts for the direct asymmetric Mannich reaction between 2-amino acetophenone and aldehydes. The 2-aryl-2,3-dihydro-4-quinoline products are obtained in moderate to good yields and good to high enantioselectivities with 10 mol% of the primary amino acid catalyst under mild reaction conditions.