Catalytic enantioselective nucleophilic addition of ynamides to aldehydes

The first catalytic asymmetric addition of ynamides to aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes is described. This reaction provides unprecedented access to a diverse family of N-substituted propargylic alcohols that are obtained in high yield and ee in the presence of 10 mol% of zinc triflate and N-methylephedrine. The use of apolar solvent mixtures is essential to avoid product racemization and to optimize ee's without compromising conversion.