Organocatalytic enantioselective decarboxylative Michael addition of β-ketoacids to α,β-unsaturated ketones

Enantioselective decarboxylative Michael addition reactions promoted by chiral primary amine organocatalysts have been developed, allowing the facile synthesis of the corresponding chiral 1,5-diketones with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee). The method reported represents a valuable approach of utilizing β-ketoacids as synthetic equivalents of aryl methyl ketones.