Highly Enantioselective 1,4‐Addition of Diethyl Phosphite to Enones Using a Dinuclear Zn Catalyst

Zinc benefits: The first catalytic asymmetric phospha-Michael addition of enones has been developed. Under mild reaction conditions, the gamma-oxo phosphonates could be obtained in high yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (93-99% ee; see scheme). The strategy makes the asymmetric synthesis of biologically important phosphonate compounds more accessible.