Synfacts 2009(9): 0993-0993  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1217647
Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis and Stereoselective Reactions
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Copper-NHC Catalysts for Asymmetric Conjugate Addition

Contributor(s): Mark Lautens, David A. Candito
K.-s. Lee, A. H. Hoveyda*
Boston College, Chestnut Hill, USA
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
21 August 2009 (online)

Significance

The authors report an asymmetric conjugate addition of aryl- and alkenylsilanes to cyclic enones catalyzed by chiral NHC-copper complexes. This represents the first report of a copper-catalyzed variant of this transformation. Organosilanes are stable and readily available making them convenient reagents. Furthermore, they offer greater functional group tolerance relative to other organometallic reagents.