A novel method has been developed for the asymmetric cyclization of alkyl aryl ethers. The reactions were assumed to proceed via short-lived chiral enolate intermediates with a chiral C–O axis to give cyclic ethers with tetrasubstituted carbon in up to 99% ee. The half-life of racemization of the chiral enolate intermediate was roughly estimated to be∼ 1 s at− 78° C.
![2-[[tert-butyl(dimethyl)silyl]oxymethyl]phenol Structure](https://image.chemsrc.com/caspic/203/96013-80-8.png)
