An asymmetric conjugate addition reaction of lithium organocopper reagent controlled by a chiral amidophosphine

Abstract

Examination of the behaviors of the chiral amidophosphines 1–14 in the asymmetric conjugate addition reaction of lithium organocopper with chalcone and cycloalkenone revealed that the reaction efficiency is governed by many factors including copper salt, solvent, molecular ratio of copper and organolithium, and the structure of the substrate. The reaction with cycloalkenone gave the adduct in up to 94% ee under the stoichiometric conditions.