Lithium binaphtholate-catalyzed asymmetric addition of lithium acetylides to carbonyl compounds.

The asymmetric addition of lithium acetylides to carbonyl compounds in the presence of a chiral lithium binaphtholate catalyst was developed. A procedure involving the slow addition of carbonyl compounds to lithium acetylides improved the enantioselectivity. This reaction afforded diverse chiral secondary and tertiary propargylic alcohols in high yields and with good to high enantioselectivities.