Asymmetric Direct 1,2-Addition of Aryl Grignard Reagents to Aryl Alkyl Ketones.

The enantioselective addition of Grignard reagents to ketones was promoted by a BINOL derivative bearing alkyl chains at the 3,3'-positions. This is the first asymmetric direct aryl Grignard addition to ketones reported to date. A variety of tertiary diaryl alcohols could be obtained in high yields and enantioselectivities without using any other metal source.