Iridium-Catalyzed Regio- and Enantioselective Hydroarylation of Alkenyl Ethers by Olefin Isomerization

Iridium-catalyzed hydroarylation of alkenyl ethers, such as allylic and homoallylic ethers, by C−H bond activation gave high yields of the corresponding addition products, where the aryl groups were selectively installed at the α-carbon atom to the alkoxy group. The reaction involves an isomerization of the alkenyl ethers into the corresponding 1-alkenyl ethers, which then undergo the regio- and enantioselective hydroarylation.