Conjugate Addition of Aryl Nucleophiles to α,β-Unsaturated Cinnamic Acid Derivatives Containing Evans Type Chiral Auxiliaries

Abstract Cinnamides containing oxazolidin-2-one type auxiliaries have been prepared. A novel pathway to chiral 4-aryl-6-methyl-3,4-dihydrocoumrines via the asymmetric conjugate addition of arylmagnesium bromides to these cinnamides is described.