Highly Enantioselective Copper‐Phosphoramidite‐Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Dialkylzinc Reagents to Acyclic α,β‐Unsaturated Imides

Abstract

Abstract A new and practical way to introduce an alkyl fragment in the β‐position of aliphatic carboxylic acid derivatives with high enantioselectivities by the use of a commercially available chiral ligand is reported. N ‐Acylpyrrolidinones, as simple derivatives of an α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acid, were found to be the substrates of choice featuring good reactivity and high enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).