The asymmetric nucleophilic addition of Reformatsky-type reagent to imines, which were prepared from aldehydes and 2-aminophenols, was achieved by the use of diisopropyl (R,R)tartrate as a chiral auxiliary to afford the corresponding beta -amino acid ester derivatives with excellent enantioselectivities. in order to realize reproducible higher stereoselection, the addition of a small amount of water was crucial.