Regioselective reductions of β,β-disubstituted enones catalyzed by nonracemically ligated copper hydride

CuH-catalyzed 1,2-additions to β,β-disubstituted α,β-unsaturated ketones have been further explored. Asymmetric reductions of enones lacking an α-substituent can be achieved with CuH complexed by DTBM-SEGPHOS in Et2O at −25 °C leading to the generation of highly valuable nonracemic allylic alcohols. The corresponding 1,4-reductions can also be achieved using the same reaction conditions by switching the ligand to a JOSIPHOS analog affording nonracemic β,β-disubstituted ketones. DFT calculations of the enone conformations and transition-state energies for model 1,2- and 1,4-additions were carried out to clarify the factors affecting the product ratios.