Asymmetric Conjugate Alkynylation of Cyclic α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds with a Chiral Diene Rhodium Catalyst.

Asymmetric conjugate alkynylation of cyclic α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (ketones, esters, and amides) was realized by use of diphenyl[(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]methanol as an alkynylating reagent in the presence of a rhodium catalyst coordinated with a new chiral diene ligand (Fc-bod; bod=bicyclo[2.2.2]octa-2,5-diene, Fc=ferrocenyl) to give high yields of the corresponding β-alkynyl-substituted carbonyl compounds with 95-98% ee.