Cu-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate additions of alkyl zinc reagents to unsaturated N-acyloxazolidinones promoted by a chiral triamide phosphane

A chiral triamide phosphane promotes highly efficient and enantioselective Cu-catalyzed conjugate additions of alkyl zinc compounds to unsaturated oxazolidinones (see scheme). The resulting β-alkyl chiral oxazolidinones are readily converted into synthetically useful carbonyl compounds not accessible by alternative catalytic methods.