Copper(I)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Desymmetrization: Synthesis of Five-Membered-Ring Compounds Containing All-Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters

A highly stereoselective catalytic alkylation sequence
for the
synthesis of highly functionalized and versatile five-membered-ring
compounds bearing all-carbon quaternary stereocenters was developed.
Enantioselective desymmetrization of achiral cyclopentene-1,3-diones
was thus executed by chiral Cu–phosphoramidite catalysts. A
variety of complicated cyclopentane derivatives can be synthesized
with excellent stereoselectivities using a low catalyst loading in
a one-pot operation.