The enantioselective synthesis of a bicyclo[4.3.0]nonene derivative bearing a quaternary carbon stereocenter is achieved by employing a desymmetrization strategy involving an intramolecular addition. The intramolecular nucleophilic addition of a highly reactive carbanion generated from an alkenyl iodide in the presence of a chiral ligand occurs with discrimination of two keto carbonyl groups to give the corresponding bicyclic compound in 81% yield and 39% ee. Asymmetric synthesis via an intramolecular desymmetrization strategy using a chiral ligand–carbanion complex represents a complementary approach to using chiral organocatalysts or chiral ligand–transition-metal complexes.
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