Asymmetric conjugate addition is an important methodology for carbon-carbon bond formation in organic synthesis. While there is extensive literature on the asymmetric conjugate addition of a wide selection of donors to a variety of acceptors, there are relatively few reports on the asymmetric conjugate addition of heteroaryl groups. Almost all of these reports utilize catalytic amounts of both a rhodium compound and a chiral ligand, and usually employ organoboron reagents. Furthermore, these additions have been problematic due to protodeboronation. Other organocatalytic methods have offered low yields and moderate enantioselectivies. The binaphthol / boronate catalyst system developed by the Chong group is effective in promoting asymmetric conjugate addition of 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-furyl, and 2-benzo[b]thienyl moieties to acyclic enones. The combination of 3,3ʹ-disubstituted binaphthols with diethyl heteroarylboronates generated 1,4-adducts with good yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 100% yield and 99.9:0.1 er). This catalyst system complements known methods of conjugate addition of heteroaryl groups involving transition metal catalysts and cyclic enone acceptors and is the most effective organocatalytic system reported to date.

Asymmetric conjugate addition is an important methodology for carbon-carbon bond formation in organic synthesis. While there is extensive literature on the asymmetric conjugate addition of a wide selection of donors to a variety of acceptors, there are relatively few reports on the asymmetric conjugate addition of heteroaryl groups. Almost all of these reports utilize catalytic amounts of both a rhodium compound and a chiral ligand, and usually employ organoboron reagents. Furthermore, these additions have been problematic due to protodeboronation. Other organocatalytic methods have offered low yields and moderate enantioselectivies. The binaphthol / boronate catalyst system developed by the Chong group is effective in promoting asymmetric conjugate addition of 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-furyl, and 2-benzo[b]thienyl moieties to acyclic enones. The combination of 3,3ʹ-disubstituted binaphthols with diethyl heteroarylboronates generated 1,4-adducts with good yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 100% yield and 99.9:0.1 er). This catalyst system complements known methods of conjugate addition of heteroaryl groups involving transition metal catalysts and cyclic enone acceptors and is the most effective organocatalytic system reported to date.