Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylations of alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles catalyzed by bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine-scandium(III) triflate complexes.

An enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation with alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles and electron-rich aromatic nucleophiles catalyzed by bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine-scandium(III) triflate complexes has been accomplished. These alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles are effective electrophiles for the Friedel-Crafts reaction. The resulting adduct 2-acyl imidazole is easily converted to amides, esters, carboxylic acids, ketones, and aldehydes by methylation and subsequent displacement of the imidazole residue.