Highly enantioselective catalytic methyl propiolate addition to both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes

The excellent catalytic effect on methyl propiolate addition to a wide range of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes promoted by inexpensive and commercially available BINOL-based ligand is reported. The catalyst systems showed high yields and excellent enantioselectivities for aromatic aldehydes, and excellent yields and high enantioselectivities for aliphatic aldehydes.