The first organocatalytic enantioselective 1,6-addition of <
IMG SRC="/images/gifchars/beta2.gif" BORDER=0 ALIGN="middle">-ketoesters and benzophenone imineto electron-poor
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-unsubstituted dienes using cinchona alkaloids under phase-transfer conditions isdemonstrated. The scope of the reaction for the
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-ketoesters is outlined for reactions with different
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-unsubstituted dienes having ketones, esters, and sulfones as electron-withdrawing substituents givingthe corresponding optically active products in good yields and enantioselectivities in the range of 90-99%ee. The 1,6-addition also proceeds with a number of cyclic
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-ketoesters having different ring sizes, ringsystems and substituents in high yields and enantioselectivities. The potential of this new organocatalytic1,6-addition for
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-ketoesters is demonstrated by a two-step synthesis of the bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-onestructure, a bicyclic bridged skeleton occurring in a variety of natural compounds. Benzophenone iminesalso undergo the organocatalytic asymmetric 1,6-addition to the activated dienes in high yields and withenantioselectivities from 92% to 98% ee, except in one case. The synthetic utility of this asymmetric reactionis demonstrated by the two-step transformation of the allylated
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-amino acid derivative to highly attractiveoptically active pyrrolidines.