Enantiomerically enriched α-aryl α-cyanoacetates and α-aryl α-acylacetonitriles bearing a benzylic quaternary stereocenter have been readily synthesized by stereoselective reaction of 2-alkyl-2-[2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)phenyl]acetonitriles with different acylating and alkoxycarbonylating reagents under basic conditions. The stereoselectivity of the reactions proved closely dependent on the nature of the intermediate carbanionic species, the evolution of which was effectively controlled by a sulfinyl group as a remote chiral auxiliary.
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