Enantioselective Conjugate Addition of Cyanide to Enones

Significance

This work represents the first synthetically useful asymmetric conjugate addition of cyanide to enones. There are a number of reports for the asymmetric 1,4-addition of cyanide to im­ides (C. Mazet, E. N. Jacobsen Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 1762) and N-acylpyrroles (T. Mita, K. Sasaki, M. Kanai, M. Shibasaki J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 514). The authors have nicely demonstrated the utility of their system including the limitations. There is ongoing work to improve the catalyst turnover as well as extension to generate quaternary carbon centers.