Preparation of optically active ketones via enantioface-differentiating protonation of prochiral enolates

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)92293-7

Enantioselective protonation of the prochiral lithium enolate (2) of 2-benzylcyclohexanone (3) was developed. Reaction of 2 with methyl (S)-α-hydroxyisocaproate (15) as a chiral proton source afforded (R)-3 in a high optical yield. This reaction is widely applicable to the preparation of various α-substituted optically active ketones.