Deracemizing α‐Branched Carboxylic Acids by Catalytic Asymmetric Protonation of Bis‐Silyl Ketene Acetals with Water or Methanol

We report a highly enantioselective catalytic protonation of bis‐silyl ketene acetals. Our method delivers α‐branched carboxylic acids, including nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory arylpropionic acids such as Ibuprofen, in high enantiomeric purity and high yields. The process can be incorporated in an overall deracemization of α‐branched carboxylic acids, involving a double deprotonation and silylation followed by the catalytic asymmetric protonation.