Phosphoramidites: Marvellous ligands in catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition

The development of an efficient catalytic system for enantioselective carbon-carbon bond formation by 1,4-addition of organometallic reagents (organolithium, Grignard, and organozinc reagents) to enones is a major challenge in organic synthesis. This Account presents the breakthrough realized in this field using chiral phosphoramidite ligands for copper-catalyzed dialkylzinc additions. Applications in catalytic routes to cycloalkanones as well as tandem and annulation procedures with excellent enantioselectivities are discussed.