A Cu-BOX catalysed enantioselective Mukaiyama-aldol reaction with difluorinated silyl enol ethers and acylpyridine -oxides.

A Cu(II)/BOX complex catalyses the enantioselective addition of difluorinated silyl enol ethers to acylpyridine -oxides. The reaction provides difluorinated chiral tertiary alcohols of great interest in medicinal chemistry. These compounds are obtained in moderate to excellent yields and with high enantioselectivities.