Enantioselective dialkylzinc-mediated alkynylation, arylation and alkenylation of carbonyl groups

Enantiopure diarylmethanols, propargylic and allylic alcohols are important building blocks for the synthesis of a plethora of natural products and pharmaceutically relevant compounds. Among several methods employed for their synthesis, the enantioselective addition of diorganozinc compounds to carbonyl compounds in the presence of appropriate ligands becomes increasingly significant. In this comprehensive review, methods based on the use of readily available diethyl- and dimethylzinc for the formation of more complex compounds are compared and discussed. Available data on the mechanisms and transition states of reactions are presented.