Enantioselective copper-catalyzed 1,4-addition of dialkylzincs to enones using a novel N,N,P–Cu(II) complex

Abstract Enantioselective copper-catalyzed 1,4-additions of dialkylzincs to enones were carried out in the presence of 1 mol % of Cu(OTf) 2 and 2.5 mol % of an N,N,P -ligand possessing a tert -butyl group at the adjacent position of the nitrogen of pyridine to afford the corresponding 1,4-adducts in up to 98% ee.