A convenient route for the synthesis of a variety of salan-type compounds is introduced. The synthesis is based on a single-step Mannich condensation between readily available starting materials: primary or secondary amines, formaldehyde and substituted phenols. This methodology is suitable for the preparation of chiral salans as well, which may find applications in asymmetric catalysis.
![2-[[2-[(2-hydroxy-3,5-ditert-butyl-phenyl)methylamino]ethylamino]methyl]-4,6-ditert-butyl-phenol Structure](https://image.chemsrc.com/caspic/378/63551-08-6.png)