Synthesis of W-Phos Ligand and Its Application in the Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Addition of Linear Grignard Reagents to Ketones

The asymmetric catalytic addition of linear Grignard reagents to ketones has been a long-standing challenge in organic synthesis. Herein, a novel family of PNP ligands (W-Phos) was designed and applied in copper-catalyzed asymmetric addition of linear Grignard reagents to aryl alkyl ketones, allowing facile access to versatile chiral tertiary alcohols in good to high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 94 % yield, 96 % ee). The process can also be used to synthesize chiral allylic tertiary alcohols from more challenging α,β-unsaturated ketones. Notably, the potential utility of this method is demonstrated in the gram-scale synthesis and modification of various densely functionalized medicinally relevant molecules.

Five-Step Enantioselective Synthesis of Islatravir via Asymmetric Ketone Alkynylation and an Ozonolysis Cascade

A 5-step enantioselective synthesis of the potent anti-HIV nucleoside islatravir is reported. The highly efficient route was enabled by a novel enantioselective alkynylation of an α,β-unsaturated ketone, a unique ozonolysis-dealkylation cascade in water, and an enzymatic aldol-glycosylation cascade.