A Highly Enantioselective α-Bromination?

Significance

Goswami, Baruah and Das report a highly efficient α-bromination of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and cyclic ketones. Using 2,2-dibromodimedone 2 as a brominating agent and a simple primary amino acid catalyst 4, products 3 are reported to form in high yields and enantioselectivities. It is noteworthy that an enantioselective synthesis of the highly stereolabile products 3 where R^² = H is unprecedented.