Lithium Binaphtholate-Catalyzed Michael Reaction of Malonates with Maleates and Its Application to the Enantioselective Synthesis of Tricarboxylic Acid Derivatives.

The Michael reaction of malonates with maleates afforded the corresponding adducts in high yields with high enantioselectivities (up to 98% enantiomeric excess (ee)) by using dilithium 3,3'-dichlorobinaphtholate as a catalyst. The obtained Michael adducts could be converted to optically active tricarboxylic acid (TCA) derivatives via the Krapcho reaction.