Barium-catalyzed direct Mannich-type reactions of a
![](/images/gifchars/beta2.gif)
,
![](/images/gifchars/gamma.gif)
-unsaturated ester are described. The Ba-catalyst not only promoted the Mannich-typereactions, but also isomerized Mannich adducts to afford
![](/images/gifchars/beta2.gif)
-methyl
aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman-type products in 61-88% yield from variousaryl, heteroaryl, and alkyl imines. Preliminary trials on enantioselective variants with a chiral biaryldiol ligand gave products in up to 80% ee.