The a,b -unsaturated are compounds that have two electrophilic positions: the carbonyl carbon and the b carbon.

Additions 1,2. Lithium organometallics attack the carbonyl carbon giving rise to 1,2 additions.

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yoThe organometallics of lithium and magnesium attack the carbonyl carbon of the a,b-unsaturates


Addition Mechanism 1.2

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Additions 1.4. Cuprates, cyanide, and other nucleophiles attack the b carbon of a,b -unsaturates, giving 1,4 additions.

yoHydrocyanic acid gives 1,4 additions with the a,b -unsaturated. The cyano is attached to carbon b.
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Mechanism of addition of hydrocyanic acid to Cyclohex-2-enone

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carbonyl protonation
Cyanide nucleophilic attack on carbon b .
Keto-enol tautomerism.

yoCuprates are copper organometallics that add to the b carbon of a,b -unsaturated compounds.
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The reaction mechanism begins with the nucleophilic attack of the cuprate on the b carbon, forming an enolate, which is protonated in the second stage to give an enol. The enol tautomerizes to a ketone, generating the final product.

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[1] Nucleophilic addition of cuprate.
[2] Enolate protonation
[3]Keto–enol tautomerism