A catalytic, enantioselective acetate-aldol addition reaction of silyI
ketene acetals with alpha,beta-ynals and 3 mol % of a chiral Ti(IV) c
omplex is described. This process provides access to optically active
beta-hydroxy-gamma-alkynyl eaters in 84-96% yields and 94-97% ee's. (C
) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.