Aromatic Heterocycles as Activating Groups for Asymmetric Conjugate Addition Reactions. Enantioselective Copper-Catalyzed Reduction of 2-Alkenylheteroarenes

The versatility of chiral copper hydride catalysis has been demonstrated through development of highly enantioselective 1,4-reductions of 2-alkenylheteroarenes, substrates that have been rarely considered for asymmetric conjugate addition reactions. Both azoles and azines serve as efficient activating groups for this process.