Enantioselective synthesis of benzylic stereocentres via Claisen rearrangement of enantiomerically pure allylic alcohols: preparation of (R)- and (S)-3-methyl-2-phenylbutylamine.

The Johnson-Claisen rearrangement of enantiopure allylic alcohols in triethylorthopropionate is the key step for the preparation of chiral molecules with benzylic stereogenic carbon atoms bearing an isopropyl moiety. The synthetic procedure is applied to the preparation of (R)- and (S)-3-methyl-2-phenylbutylamine.