A catalytic, Me2Zn-mediated, enantioselective reformatsky reaction with ketones

Abstract

(Chemical Equation Presented) Kill two birds with one ... Salen! A catalytic and practical Me2Zn-mediated enantioselective Reformatsky reaction promoted by [ClMn(salen)] with a ketone as the electrophile is presented (see scheme). The broad scope and simple nature of this procedure, which allows the use of commercially available starting materials and leads to useful building blocks containing quaternary stereocenters, make it extremely attractive. (salen = N,N′-ethylene-bis(salicylideneamine).). © 2006 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.