Highly Enantioselective Conjugate Reduction of β,β‐Disubstituted α,β‐Unsaturated Nitriles

Abstract

Easy access: The highly enantioselective conjugate reduction of α,β-unsaturated nitriles is achieved by employing bench-top stable copper(II) acetate and josiphos (L) as the ligand in the presence of polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS). This protocol provides ready access to valuable chiral β-aryl substituted nitriles in good yields and with excellent enantioselectivities.