Enolates ambushed - asymmetric tandem conjugate addition and subsequent enolate trapping with conventional and less traditional electrophiles

Metal enolates are useful intermediates and building blocks indispensable in many organic synthetic transformations. Chiral metal enolates obtained by asymmetric conjugate additions of organometallic reagents are structurally complex intermediates that can be employed in many transformations. In this review, we describe this burgeoning field that is reaching maturity after more than 25 years of development. The effort of our group to broaden possibilities to engage metal enolates in reactions with new electrophiles is described. The material is divided according to the organometallic reagent employed in the conjugate addition step, and thus to the particular metal enolate formed. Short information on applications in total synthesis is also given.

The squaramide-catalyzed asymmetric Michael/cyclization tandem reaction for the synthesis of chiral trifluoromethylated hydroxyimino tetrahydrobenzofuranones

An enantioselective synthesis of trifluoromethylated hydroxyimino tetrahydrobenzofuranones has been developed. 1,3-Dicarbonyl carbocyclic compounds react with β-CF3-β-disubstituted nitroalkenes in the presence of a chiral squaramide catalyst, providing efficient access to diverse hydroxyimino tetrahydrobenzofuranones featuring a trifluoromethyl group at the C3-position of an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter with good yields (up to 81%) and enantioselectivities (up to 89% ee).