SmI2-Mediated Reductive Enolization of α-Hetero-Substituted Ketones and Enantioselective Protonation.

Abstract High enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee) has been achieved in the protonation of samarium enolates which were generated by SmI 2 -mediated reduction of 2-aryl-2-methoxycyclohexanones using a C 2 -symmetric chiral diol as a proton source.