Phase‐Transfer‐Catalyzed Olefin Isomerization/α‐Alkylation of α‐Alkynylcrotonates as a Route for 1,4‐Enynes

The phase‐transfer‐catalyzed alkylation of α‐alkynylcrotonates was developed as a means to provide 1,4‐enynes deconjugated by an all‐carbon quaternary center. Extension to the asymmetric version using the chiral phase‐transfer catalyst (S)‐ 3 provided the alkylated compounds with up to 87% ee.