Approach to Enantioselective Conjugate Addition of Organocopper Reagents to Cycloalkenones by the Aid of Chiral Lactam Bearing Phosphine Group

The chiral lactam-phosphine ligand and copper salt mediated asymmetric conjugate addition reaction of butylmagnesium chloride and diethylzinc with cycloalkenones afforded the addition products in moderate selectivity. Among phosphines examined, 5-[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]-3,3-dimethylpyrrolidin-2-one 5 gave rise to moderate enantioselectivity and high yield.