Formation of quaternary centers by copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of alkylzirconium reagents

Abstract

Pure and simple: Alkylzirconocenes generated in situ from simple alkenes are used in highly enantioselective copper-catalyzed 1,4-addition reactions to trisubstituted cyclic enones to generate quaternary centers. These reactions operate at room temperature under a range of conditions and tolerate many functional groups. Cp=cyclopentadienyl, Tf=trifluoromethanesulfonyl. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.