Copper‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Conjugate Addition of Grignard Reagents to α,β‐Unsaturated Esters

Abstract

Stable dinuclear Cu complexes have been used to catalyze the conjugate addition of inexpensive and readily available Grignard reagents to acyclic α,β-unsaturated esters. The method provides the corresponding β-substituted optically active esters in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities (see scheme). R3=cyclohexyl, R4=Ph or R3=Ph, R4=cyclohexyl. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2005/z500317_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.