Enantioselective and regiodivergent copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of trialkylaluminium reagents to extended nitro-Michael acceptors

Org Lett. 2010 Jun 18;12(12):2770-3. doi: 10.1021/ol100849j.

Abstract

The first highly enantioselective and regiodivergent conjugate addition of trialkylaluminium reagents to nitrodienes and nitroenynes is described. By a design of the substrate and a fine-tuning of the reaction conditions, it is possible to selectively form the 1,4- or 1,6-adduct. The same combination of catalyst, copper source, and a ferrocene-based phosphine ligand afforded enantioselectivities up to 95% and 91%, respectively.