A Catalytic Asymmetric Ene Reaction for Direct Preparation of α-Hydroxy 1,4-Diketones as Intermediates in Natural Product Synthesis

Abstract

Asymmetric access to α-hydroxy-1,4-diketones has been achieved by direct ene coupling of silyl enol ethers with glyoxal electrophiles, mediated by a chiral N,N′-dioxide–nickel(II) complex catalyst. Successful union of a polyketide silyl enol ether with an α-quaternary glyoxal, generated by dioxirane oxidation of an α-diazo ketone, models a proposed C5–C6 disconnection of the polyketide and spirocyclic imine domains of the marine natural product, portimine.