Highly enantioselective and anti-diastereoselective catalytic intermolecular glyoxylate-ene reactions: effect of the geometrical isomers of alkenes.

An efficient method for the synthesis of homoallylic alcohols with high enantioselectivities and anti-diastereoselectivities via an In(III)-catalyzed intermolecular glyoxylate–ene reaction has been developed. The geometrical isomers of alkenes were shown to have different reactivities. Only the isomers of the alkenes having a proton β-cis to the substituent reacted in this catalytic system.