Enantioselective zirconium-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation of pyrrole with trifluoromethyl ketones.

The first catalytic enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of pyrrole with 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenones to give pyrroles with a trifluoromethyl-substituted tertiary alcohol moiety bearing a quaternary stereogenic center is described. The reaction is achieved in the presence of a 3,3'-dibromo-BINOL-Zr(IV) complex to give the expected products with high yields (up to 98%) and good enantioselectivities (up to 93% ee). The absolute stereochemistry of the products has been determined by chemical correlation.