Enantioselective protonation of alkenyl trifluoroacetates catalyzed by chiral tin methoxide.

Go catalytic! A catalytic enantioselective protonation of alkenyl trifluoroacetates was achieved by using an in situ generated chiral tin bromide methoxide as the chiral catalyst in the presence of methanol. Optically active ketones containing a tertiary stereogenic center at the α-position were obtained with enantioselectivities of up to 94 % ee.