Enantioselective Addition of Aromatic Thiols to a Ketene

Abstract

High enantioselectivities, even though 95% of the protons come from an achiral source are obtained in the reactions of 1 with lithiated aromatic thiols like 2 in the presence of 5 mol% of the chiral catalyst 3. Ar = Ph, 2-naphthyl, pClC6H4.