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Abstract The chemical synthesis of molecules with closely packed atoms having their bond coordination saturated is a challenge to synthetic chemists, especially when three-dimensional control is required. The organocatalyzed asymmetric synthesis of acyclic alkenylated, alkynylated and heteroarylated quaternary carbon stereocenters via 1,4-conjugate addition is here catalyzed by 3,3´-bisperfluorotoluyl-BINOL. The highly useful products (31 examples) are produced in up to 99% yield and 97:3 er using enediketone substrates and potassium trifluoroorganoborate nucleophiles. In addition, mechanistic experiments show that the (Z)–isomer is the reactive form, ketone rotation at the site of bond formation is needed for enantioselectivity, and quaternary carbon formation is favored over tertiary. Density functional theory-based calculations show that reactivity and selectivity depend on a key n→π* donation by the unbound ketone’s oxygen lone pair to the boronate-coordinated ketone in a 5-exo-trig cyclic ouroboros transition state. Transformations of the conjugate addition products to key quaternary carbon-bearing synthetic building blocks proceed in good yield. 

Two key factors bear on reaction rates for the conjugate addition of alkenyl boronic acids to heteroaryl-appended enones: the proximity of inductively electron-withdrawing heteroatoms to the site of bond formation and the resonance contribution of available heteroatom lone pairs to stabilize the developing positive charge at the enone β-position. For the former, the closer the heteroatom is to the enone β-carbon, the faster the reaction. For the latter, greater resonance stabilization of the benzylic cationic charge accelerates the reaction. Thus, reaction rates are increased by the closer proximity of inductive electron-withdrawing elements, but if resonance effects are involved, then increased rates are observed with electron-donating ability. Evidence for these trends in isomeric substrates is presented, and the application of these insights has allowed for reaction conditions that provide improved reactivity with previously problematic substrates.