[reaction: see text] The enantioselective catalytic 1,4-addition to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketimines is an unprecedented process. Herein, we document the copper-catalyzed addition of dialkylzinc reagents to (2-pyridylsulfonyl)imines of chalcones. This process occurs rapidly in the presence of a chiral phosphoramidite ligand to afford exclusively the 1,4-addition product. In the case of addition of dimethylzinc, enantioselectivities in the range 70-80% ee are obtained. The presence of the metal-coordinating 2-pyridylsulfonyl group proved to be essential for this reaction to proceed.
![(S,S,S)-(+)-(3,5-二氧杂-4-磷杂环庚二烯并[2,1-a:3,4-a']二萘-4-基)二(1-苯基乙基)胺 结构式](https://image.chemsrc.com/caspic/174/380230-02-4.png)
![(11bS)-N,N-双[(R)-1-苯基乙基]-联萘并[2,1-d:1',2'-f][1,3,2]二氧膦杂-4-胺 结构式](https://image.chemsrc.com/caspic/019/497883-22-4.png)