Highly efficient catalytic enantioselective Mannich reaction of malonates with N-tert-butoxycarbonyl imines by using Yb(OTf)3/pybox catalysts at room temperature.

Go Mannich! A highly efficient and enantioselective method for the direct asymmetric reaction of dibenzyl malonate with N-tert-butoxycarbonyl aldimines in the presence of Yb(OTf)3 and iPr-pybox complexes is described (see scheme; pybox = pyridine bisoxazoline).