An asymmetric nickel-chromium coupling toward the synthesis of Baylis-Hillman adducts

An asymmetric nickel-chromium coupling strategy has been employed in the generation of enantioenriched Baylis-Hillman adducts with selectivities reaching >90% ee and in fair to moderate yields (up to 65%) using a chiral sulfonamide ligand. The reaction conditions appear to show reasonable generality and are compatible with both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. Utilizing such a strategy not only allows for the preparation of products which contain substitution at the β-position on the olefin but also allows for the separation of olefin isomers in this transformation.