The asymmetric alkylation of dimethylhydrazones; intermolecular chirality transfer using sparteine as chiral ligandElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4cc06895e

The asymmetric alkylation of ketones represents a fundamental transformation in organic chemistry. Chiral auxiliaries have been used almost exclusively for this transformation. Herein we describe a strategy for the generation of enantiomerically enriched α-alkylated ketones up to an er of 83 : 17, using a chiral ligand protocol. The asymmetric alkylation of dimethylhydrazones, using intermolecular chirality transfer, is described.