Lewis acids, reaction with tert-butyl ethers

Nucleophilic addition of the trifluoromethyl group to aldehydes, ketones and other carbonyl compounds leads primarily to the corresponding trimethylsilyl ether this must subsequently be hydrolyzed to the alcohol. Because typical reaction conditions are very mild, the method is widely applicable, even for sensitive substrates. In contrast with most other methods, fluoride-induced perfluoroalkylation via silicon compounds also works for enolizable carbonyl compounds. With c(, -un-saturated substrates 1,2-addition directly to the carbonyl group is strongly preferred [64b]. If the oxygen is coordinated to a bulky Lewis acid, for example aluminum tri(2,6-bis(tert-butyl)phenoxide (ATPH), the 1,4-addition products are obtained selectively [73f] (Scheme 2.128). 

As in the uncatalyzed reactions with enamines (vide supra), there is potentially more than one point where stereochemical differentiation can occur (Scheme 59). Selectivity can occur if the initial addition of the enol ether to the Lewis acid complex of the a,/J-unsaturated acceptor (step A) is the product-determining step. Reversion of the initial adduct 59.1 to the neutral starting acceptor and the silyl enol ether is possible, at least in some cases. If the Michael-retro-Michael manifold is rapid, then selectivity in the product generation would be determined by the relative rates of the decomposition of the diastereomers of the dipolar intermediate (59.1). For example, preferential loss of the silyl cation (or rm-butyl cation for tert-butyl esters step B) from one of the isomers could lead to selectivity in product construction. Alternatively, intramolecular transfer of the silyl cation from the donor to the acceptor (step D) could be preferred for one of the diastereomeric intermediates. If the Michael-retro-Michael addition pathway is rapid and an alternative mechanism (silyl transfer) is product-determining, then the stereochemistry of the adducts formed should show little dependence on the configuration of the starting materials employed, as is observed. 

---