Taming Living Carbocations in Catalytic Direct Conjugate Addition of Simple Alkenes to α,β-Enones

A Lewis acid in the presence of an anionic phosphate ligand enables the addition of alkenes to alpha,beta-enones. The ligand facilitates selective beta-proton elimination by suppressing competing pathways, thus leading to vinylation adducts in high yields (up to 99%) for a broad range of substrates.