Asymmetric amplification in the catalytic enantioselective 1,2-addition of Grignard reagents to enones

Abstract

Large asymmetric amplification originating from solubility differences between the enantiopure and the racemic catalyst is observed in the addition of Grignard reagents to enones. This behaviour is not reaction or catalyst specific and is observed for metal complexes of a variety of chiral diphosphine ligands, extensively used in asymmetric catalysis.