Tris(oxazoline)/copper-catalyzed coupling of alkynes with nitrones: a highly enantioselective access to β-lactams

Chiral tris(oxazoline)/Cu(I) complexes are demonstrated as a type of efficient catalysts for the asymmetric Kinugasa reaction of terminal alkynes with C-arylnitrones, providing a highly enantio- and diastereoselective access to optically active β-lactams.