Bifunctional 3,3'-Ph2-BINOL-Mg catalyzed direct asymmetric vinylogous Michael addition of α,β-unsaturated γ-butyrolactam.

Bifunctional 3,3'-Ph(2)-BINOL-Mg catalyzed direct asymmetric vinylogous Michael addition of α,β-unsaturated γ-butyrolactam has been developed. The catalytic activity of this protocol was slightly affected by different types of Michael acceptors, such as a variety of enones as well as α,β-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles. The Michael products were obtained with high diastereoselectivities (up to 20:1) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98%).