A single-pot synthesis of 1,1,2-trisubstituted 1,2-dihydronaphthalenes in high enantiomeric purity

A diastereoselective addition of Grignard reagents to nonracemic 2-(1-naphthyl)-4-(4R)-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidines (1) followed by electrophilic trapping of the azaenolate is described. This tandem addition was performed in a single flask producing 1,1,2-trisubstituted 1,2-dihydronaphthalenes 7 in excellent yields and high enantioselectivities.