Asymmetric catalytic reductive coupling of 1,3-enynes and aromatic aldehydes

Nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling reactions of 1,3-enynes and aromatic aldehydes efficiently afford conjugated dienols in excellent regioselectivity and modest enantioselectivity when conducted in the presence of catalytic amounts of a monodentate, P-chiral ferrocenyl phosphine ligand. 1-(Trimethylsilyl) -substituted enynes are shown to be effective coupling partners in these reactions, and the dienol products thus formed readily undergo protiodesilylation under mild conditions.