Organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of β,β-diaryl ketonesviaone-pot tandem dehydration/1,6-addition/decarboxylation transformation of β-keto acids and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohols

Herein we describe an organocatalytic protocol for the asymmetric synthesis of beta,beta-diaryl ketones. Under the catalysis of a chiral phosphoric acid, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohols underwent dehydration to formpara-quinone methides, which reacted with beta-keto acids in 1,6-addition reactions. Upon treatment with Et3N in one-pot, decarboxylation proceeded to provide the desired chiral ketones in nearly quantitative yields with high enantioselectivities.