Abstract: A diastereoselective synthesis of 1, 2-diamino-1, 2-di-tert-butylethane has been developed by addition of tert-butyl magnesium chloride to a chiral bis-imine derived from glyoxal and (S)-methylbenzylamine. Addition of the bis-imine to the Grignard reagent in hexane at 50 C gave only one diastereomer detectable by 1H and 13C NMR. Hydrogenolysis of the phenylethyl groups led to the expected free diamine 3 in good ...
