Organocatalytic Enantioselective Formal C(sp²)–H Alkylation

Abstract

An organocatalytic enantioselective formal C(sp(2))-H alkylation is reported. This alkylative desymmetrization of prochiral 2,2-disubstituted cyclopentene-1,3-dione is catalyzed by a bifunctional tertiary aminourea derivative, utilizes air-stable and inexpensive nitroalkanes as the alkylating agents, and delivers synthetically versatile five-membered carbocycles containing an all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center remote from the reaction site in excellent enantioselectivity.