N-sulfinyl metalloenamine conjugate additions: asymmetric synthesis of piperidines.

[reaction: see text] The first examples of conjugate additions of N-tert-butanesulfinyl metalloenamines are reported. Highly stereoselective conjugate additions (97:3 to 99:1 dr) were observed between metalloenamines derived from N-sulfinyl ketimines and alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones bearing either alkyl or aryl substituents. The conjugate addition products could rapidly be converted with high diastereoselectivity to 2,4,6-trisubstituted piperidines, which are difficult to access by other methods.