Mandelamide-zinc-catalyzed enantioselective alkyne addition to heteroaromatic aldehydes.

The (S,S)-mandelamide III catalyzes the additions of both aryl- and alkylalkynylzinc reagents to heteroaromatic aldehydes with good yields and enantioselectivities up to 92%. This catalyst is easily prepared in a one-step procedure, and both enantiomers are available. Unlike most other described methods, using this catalyst does not require the addition of Ti(O(i)Pr)4.