Organocuprates as electron transfer reagents. Evaluation for conjugate addition of electrophiles to α,β-unsaturated ketones

The reaction of a series of organocuprate systems containing alkyl, aryl, alkynyl, silylalkyl or phenylthio groups with (1) is reported. Some of these organocuprates showed electron transfer properties and were relatively unreactive toward conjugate addition, hence have potential synthetic application as organocuprates involving an external electrophile.