Chang K.C.Chiu H.H.Huang P.G.Miñoza S.Lee W.H.Keerthipati P.K.Racochote S.Lee Y.H.Chou C.J.Hsu C.M.Chang C.W.Soorukram D.Chiu C.C.Liao H.H.Mahidol University2025-03-082025-03-082025-01-01Journal of the American Chemical Society (2025)00027863https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/105527The enantioselective protonation of prochiral enolates is an ideal and straightforward platform to synthesize stereodefined α-tertiary esters, which are recurring motifs in a myriad of biorelevant molecules and important intermediates thereof. However, this approach remains onerous, particularly when dealing with α-unactivated esters and related acids, as enantioinduction on the nascent nucleophile necessitates peremptory reaction conditions, thus far only achieved via preformed enolates. A complementary and contra-thermodynamic catalytic strategy is herein described, where a transient photoenol, in the form of a ketene hemiacetal, is enantioselectively protonated with a chiral phosphoric acid (CPA). The prochiral photoketene hemiacetals are procured from excited α,β-unsaturated esters, specifically from the Z-geometric isomer through [1,5]-hydride shift as a chemically productive nonradiative relaxation pathway. Tautomerization via formal 1,3-proton transfer in the photoketene hemiacetal with CPA as a proton shuttle delivers α-branched β,γ-alkenyl esters in good to excellent yields and enantioselectivity under mild conditions. Furthermore, the current protocol was coupled to functional group interconversion experiments, as well as in a formal total synthesis of a known marine γ-butyrolactone-type metabolite. Performing the reaction in a continuous photoflow setup also enabled a gram-scale synthesis of a β,γ-alkenyl ester with up to 92% ee.Chemical EngineeringChemistryBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular BiologyArticleSCOPUS10.1021/jacs.4c157322-s2.0-8521889375015205126