Enantioselective addition of terminal alkynes to N-(diphenylphosphinoyl)imines catalyzed by Zn–BINOL complexes

Chiral nonracemic N-(diphenylphosphinoyl)-protected propargylic amines have been prepared by addition of terminal alkynes to N-(diphenylphosphinoyl)aldimines in the presence of dimethylzinc and 3,3′-dibromo-BINOL as catalyst. The reaction works with a variety of aromatic and heteroaromatic aldimines and with different alkynes, providing the expected products in generally good yields and enantiomeric excesses (up to 96%).