Iridium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydroalkynylation of Enamides for the Synthesis of Homopropargyl Amides.

Reported is an iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydroalkynylation of enamides with terminal alkynes. The reaction occurs regioselectively at the β-position of an enamide to produce homopropargyl amides. Good to high enantioselectivity was observed with an iridium complex ligated by a chiral bis(phosphine) ligand. This method provides a straightforward route to synthesize chiral homopropargyl amides with a stereocenter β to the amide.