Enantioselective Organocatalytic Conjugate Addition of Fluorocarbon Nucleophiles to α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

Abstract

A highly chemo- and enantioselective organocatalytic addition of fluorocarbon nucleophiles, such as 1-fluoro-bis(phenylsulfonyl)methane, toα,β-unsaturated aldehydes is presented (see scheme). The reactions are catalyzed by simple chiral amines and give access to optically active fluorine derivatives in good yields and up to 95 % ee. Notably, the methodology can be applied to the formation of a chiral quaternary carbon center bearing a fluorine atom with high enantioselectivity.