Efficient cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate additions of alkylzincs to trisubstituted cyclic enones.

The first examples of efficient catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition (ACA) of alkylzincs to trisubstituted cyclic enones is disclosed. These Cu-catalyzed reactions proceed efficiently with five- and seven-membered ring substrates to afford the desired products in >/=95% ee. Intermediate enolates can be trapped with alkyl halides to generate a quaternary stereogenic center. The requisite chiral ligand is prepared from commercially available materials and can be used in situ without further purification in the presence of commercial grade (CuOTf)2.PhMe.