Creation of a Chiral All-Carbon Quaternary Center Induced by CF 3 and CH 3 Substituents via Cu-Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Addition.

Cu-catalyzed asymmetric construction of a chiral quaternary center bearing CH 3 and CF 3 groups was achieved with high to excellent enantioselectivity using our originally developed ligands. The asymmetric conjugate addition of Me 3 Al to β-CF 3 -substituted enones and unsaturated ketoesters proceeded efficiently. The use of unsaturated ketoesters gives optically active furanones in high yields with high enantioselectivities. The perfluoroalkyl-substituted enone does not seem to be favorable in the present reaction.