Controlling Enantioselectivity in Additions to Cyclic Oxocarbenium Ions via Transition-Metal Catalysis

Controlling enantioselectivity in additions to oxocarbenium ions remains a challenge in asymmetric catalysis. By catalytically generating a chiral organometallic intermediate, a copper acetylide, we have developed a novel approach for additions of carbon nucleophiles to cyclic oxocarbenium ions in high enantioselectivities and yields.