Enantioselective addition of terminal alkynes to isolated isoquinoline iminiums

Abstract

[reaction: see text] The asymmetric, catalytic addition of terminal alkynes to discrete alkyliminium species in the presence of copper bromide, QUINAP ligand, and triethylamine is reported. The reaction proceeds in high yield and high enantiomeric excess with a variety of substrates in solution and is also amenable to solid-phase synthesis.