Water/MAO acceleration of the zirconocene-catalyzed asymmetric methylalumination of alpha-olefins

The zirconocene-catalyzed enantioselective methylalumination of terminal alkenes is greatly accelerated in the presence of water. Terminal olefins that are inert under the standard conditions can be readily methylated in good yields and with good to high enantioselectivities. Furthermore, methylaluminoxane is also shown to accelerate the reaction, albeit at a lesser rate.