Synthesis of novel chiral guanidine catalyst and its application in the asymmetric Pictet-Spengler reaction

A new chiral guanidine catalyst has been synthesized by the reaction of (R)-1-(1-phenylethyl)guanidine and 2,3-diphenylcycloprop-2-enone. The catalyst was evaluated for the Pictet-Spengler reaction in which tetrahydro-β-carbolines were obtained in good yields with up to 64% ee.