Formation of contiguous quaternary and tertiary stereocenters by sequential asymmetric conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to 2-substituted enones and Mg-enolate trapping.

Herein a comprehensive study is provided on the asymmetric conjugate addition (ACA) of Grignard reagents to α-substituted cyclic enones. After the elucidation of the optimal experimental conditions, the scope of Grignard reagents and Michael acceptors was examined. Whereas secondary Grignards gave better enantioselectivities with 2-cyclopentenones, both linear and branched Grignard reagents were tolerated for the ACA to 2-methylcyclohexenone. The sequential ACA-enolate trapping, which leads to quaternary stereocenters, was then studied. Thus, many electrophiles have been tested, thereby giving rise to highly functionalized cyclic ketones with contiguous α-quaternary and β-tertiary centers. The present technique is believed to bring a new approach to versatile terpenoid-like skeletons of bioactive natural products. Straightforward derivatizations of enantioenriched saturated cyclic ketones further support the potential of the present methodology in synthesis.