Titanium-Catalyzed Thienylation to Ketones

Significance

The authors have developed the first asymmetric 2-thienylaluminum additions to ketones. The thienylated products of aromatic ketones were obtained in excellent yields and enantioselectivities, whereas the addition of thienyl groups to aliphatic ketones provided the corresponding tertiary alcohols in low enantioselectivities. Furthermore, they have applied this method to the concise synthesis to (S)-tiemonium iodide in three steps.