Enantioselective preparation of β,β-disubstituted α-methylenepropionates by MAO promotion of the zinc schlenk equilibrium

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/anie.200463028

(Chemical Equation Presented) The zinc Schlenk equilibrium, little used since it was first described in 1966, has been promoted through the addition of methylaluminoxane (MAO) to maximize the yield of ZnR₂ from deleterious RZnCl by-products. This process allows an S_N2′- addition approach to the preparation of chiral β,β-disubstituted α-methylenepropionates with high enantioselectivity (see scheme).