Enantioselective Conjugate Addition of Dialkylzinc Reagents to Cyclic and Acyclic Enones Catalyzed by Chiral Copper Complexes of New Phosphorus Amidites

Abstract

Monodentate phosphorus amidites like 1 and Cu(OTf)2 provide access to the first chiral complexes that catalyze the enantioselective conjugate addition of organozinc reagents to cyclic as well as acyclic enones. The ligand-accelerated process affords β-substituted ketones in excellent yields and with high ee values. Functional groups in the zinc reagent are tolerated.