Nucleophile Coordination Enabled Regioselectivity in Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic C−H Alkylation

Branched selectivity in asymmetric allylic C?H alkylation is enabled by using 2‐acylimidazoles as nucleophiles in the presence of a chiral phosphoramidite‐palladium catalyst. A wide range of terminal alkenes, including 1,4‐dienes and allylarenes, are nicely tolerated and provide chiral 2‐acylimidazoles in moderate to high yields and with high levels of regio‐, and enantio‐, and E/Z‐selectivities. Mechanistic studies using density‐functional theory calculations suggest a nucleophile‐coordination‐enabled inner‐sphere attack mode for the enantioselective carbon–carbon bond‐forming event.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of α,α‐Disubstituted Allylic Amines through Palladium‐Catalyzed Allylic Substitution

The first asymmetric synthesis of important α,α‐disubstituted N‐alkyl allyl amine scaffolds through allylic substitution is reported. This approach is based on palladium catalysis and features ample scope with respect to both the allylic precursor and amine reagent, and high asymmetric induction with enantiomeric ratios (e.r.) up to 98.5:1.5. The use of less‐reactive anilines is also feasible, providing enantioenriched α,α‐disubstituted N‐aryl allylic amines.     

Regioselective Intermolecular Allylic C−H Amination of Disubstituted Olefins via Rhodium/π‐Allyl Intermediates

A method for catalytic intermolecular allylic C−H amination of trans ‐disubstituted olefins is reported. The reaction is efficient for a range of common nitrogen nucleophiles bearing one electron‐withdrawing group, and proceeds under mild reaction conditions. Good levels of regioselectivity are observed for a wide range of electronically diverse trans ‐β‐alkyl styrene substrates.     

Iridium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Aromatization Reaction

Described herein is an asymmetric allylic aromatization (AAAr) strategy that employs readily accessible equivalents of benzylic nucleophiles in iridium‐catalyzed allylic substitution reactions with the concomitant formation of aromatic rings by aromatization. The optimized reaction conditions involving a catalyst derived from a commercially available iridium precursor and the Carreira ligand are compatible with equivalents of benzylic nucleophiles derived from 4‐ or 5‐methyloxazoles, 5‐methylthiazoles, 4‐ or 5‐methylfurans, 2‐ or 3‐methylbenzofurans, 3‐methylbenzothiophene, 3‐methylindole, 1‐methylnaphthalene, and methylbenzene. This strategy provides straightforward accesses to valuable heterocyclic aromatic compounds, bearing a homobenzylic stereogenic center, in an enantiopure form and would be difficult to access otherwise. The versatility of the reaction was showcased by the further elaboration of the products into useful building blocks and a drug analogue.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Hydroalkenylation of Cyclopropenes with Alkenylboronic Acids

Catalytic diastereo‐ and enantioselective hydroalkenylation of 3,3‐disubstituted cyclopropenes with readily accessible alkenylboronic acids, promoted by a chiral phosphine/Co complex, is presented. Such a process constitutes the unprecedented and direct introduction of a wide range of alkenyl groups onto the cyclopropane motif to afford multisubstituted cyclopropanes in up to 95 % yield with greater than 95:5 d.r. and 99:1 e.r. Functionalization of the products delivered enantioenriched cyclopropanes that are otherwise difficult to access.     

Development of Chemo‐ and Enantioselective Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of α‐Nitroesters

We describe the development of a Pd‐catalyzed decarboxylative asymmetric allylic alkylation of α‐nitro allyl esters to afford acyclic tetrasubstituted nitroalkanes. Optimization of the reaction parameters revealed unique ligand and solvent combinations crucial for achieving chemo‐ and enantioselective C‐alkylation of electronically challenging benzylic nitronates and sterically encumbered 2‐allyl esters. Substrates were efficiently accessed in a combinatorial fashion by a cross‐Claisen/ α‐arylation sequence. The method provides functional group orthogonality that complements nucleophilic imine allylation strategies for α‐tertiary amine synthesis.     

Morpholine Ketene Aminal as Amide Enolate Surrogate in Iridium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation

Morpholine ketene aminal is employed in iridium‐catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation reactions as a surrogate for amide enolates to prepare γ,δ‐unsaturated β‐substituted morpholine amides. Kinetic resolution or, alternatively, stereospecific substitution affords the corresponding products in high enantiomeric excess. The utility of the products generated by this method has been showcased by their further elaboration into amines, ketones, or acyl silanes. A putative catalytic intermediate (η³‐allyl)iridium(III) with achiral P,Olefin‐ligand was synthetized and characterized for the first time.