This work: acylative DKR of tetra-substituted 3-hydroxyphthalides and(3)-2-thiophene derivatives also generated the corresponding esters 21 and 22 under these conditions, but gave reduced product yields and enantioselectivity and so represent a limitation of this protocol. Further investigations probed the effect of variation within the aromatic phthalide core (Scheme 1B). Incorporation of naphthylsubstitution was tolerated, with C(3)-t-butyl and C(3)-n-decyl substitution giving the corresponding ester derivatives 23 and 24 in 72% yield (95:5 er) and 77% yield (93:7 er) respectively. The incorporation of 5,6-dichloro-and 5,6-dimethyl substitution was tolerated, alongside perfluoro-and perbromo-substitution, giving the corresponding esters 25-29 in good to excellent yield and up to 99:1 er.