Asymmetric Addition of Enamides to Diaryl Ethylidenemalonates

Significance

Earlier, the authors have reported enantioselective copper-catalyzed additions of enamides and enecarbamates to various electrophiles. In the present study a chiral copper diamine complex is found to catalyze the addition of a variety of aromatic and alkyl-substituted en­amides to several diaryl ethylidenemalonates in good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities. As an advantage over related methods, the requisite proton transfer step occurs intramolecularly, provided from the enamide as opposed to an external source.