Significant asymmetric amplification in enantioselective Cu/DiPPAM-catalyzed 1,6- and 1,4-conjugate additions of diethylzinc to (di)enones.

An unprecedented and strong positive nonlinear effect (NLE) was observed in Cu/DiPPAM-catalyzed asymmetric 1,6-conjugate addition of Et2Zn on (E)-3-(prop-1-en-1-yl)cyclohex-2-enone (71% ee reached with a 40% ee ligand). Moreover, similar behaviors were observed in Cu/DiPPAM-catalyzed 1,4-asymmetric conjugate additions of Et2Zn on both cyclohexenone and (E)-3-non-3-en-2-one (83% and 70% ee, respectively, reached with a 40% ee ligand).