Recent progress in catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of β-aminoacrylic acid ester derivatives is described, and various effects in the reactivity and enantioselectivity of hydrogenation reactions are discussed.

The three component “one-pot” Mannich reaction of acetophenone with aromatic aldehydes and aromatic amines catalyzed by Yb(OTf)3 afforded the corresponding β-amino ketone derivatives in high yields under mild conditions.

Twenty-three β-amino ketone derivatives(four new compounds) were synthesized by three components one-pot Mannich reaction of acetophenone,aromatic aldehydes and aromatic amines using rare earth methylsulfonate as the catalyst at room temperature.

To explore novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR) agonists with high efficacy and low toxicity, thirteen new β-amino ketone derivatives containing a sulfamethoxazole moiety were synthesized directly through Mannich reaction in the yields of 39.