Organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of trifluoromethyl-substituted diarylpyrrolines: enantioselective conjugate cyanation of β-aryl-β-trifluoromethyl-disubstituted enones.

Ether way: the cinchona-alkaloid-catalyzed title reaction was achieved in high yields with high to excellent ee values for the first time, and affords key intermediates for the biologically important 2 having a trifluoromethylated all-carbon quaternary chiral center. Ether-type catalysts (1) are more efficient in this transformation than the conventional hydroxy analogues.