Silver/ThioClickFerrophos complex as an effective catalyst for asymmetric conjugate addition of glycine imino ester to unsaturated malonates and α-enones.

The AgOAc/ThioClickFerrophos complex effectively catalyzed the conjugate addition of glycine imino esters to arylidene and alkylidene malonates, furnishing the corresponding adducts in good yields with high enantioselectivities, in the presence or absence of an external base. The complex also catalyzed conjugate addition to α-enones in the presence of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane with high enantioselectivity, with formation of a small amount of cycloadducts.