Direct catalytic asymmetric addition of allylic cyanides to ketoimines.

Direct catalytic asymmetric addition of allylic cyanides to N-diphenylphosphinoyl ketoimines with a bimetallic catalytic system comprising Ph-BPE/[Cu(CH3CN)4]ClO4/LiOAr is described. Intermediary alpha-adducts readily isomerized to afford synthetically useful alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles bearing an optically active tetrasubstituted carbon. Applicability to aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic ketoimines exemplifies wide substrate generality. Transformation of the product into densely functionalized material showcases the utility of the present protocol.