Synlett 2021; 32(15): 1473-1478
DOI: 10.1055/a-1503-7339
synpacts

Cu(I)–Bis(phosphine) Dioxides as Catalysts for the Enantioselective α-Arylation of Carbonyl Compounds

Margarita Escudero-Casao
,
Giulia Licini
,
We thankfully acknowledge the Department of Chemical Sciences of the Università degli Studi di Padova (P-DiSC#08BIRD2019) for financial support and a postdoctoral fellowship for E.-C. M.


Dedicated to Prof. Franco Cozzi, an ‘evergreen’ mentor, on the occasion of his 70th birthday

Abstract

The transition-metal-catalyzed α-arylation of carbonyl compounds was first reported by Buchwald and Hartwig in 1997. This transformation has been used and studied extensively over the last two decades. Enantioselective variants were also developed that allow for controlling the product stereochemistry. However, these suffer several limitations in the context of formation of tertiary stereocenters. Presented here is our group’s contribution to this research area. The chiral Cu-bis(phosphine) dioxides catalytic system that we reported allowed accessing the enantioselective α-arylation of ketones that were not suitable for this transformation before in good yields and er up to 97.5:2.5. Preliminary insight and speculation concerning the reaction mechanism involving the unusual pairing of bis(phosphine) dioxides with transition-metal catalysts is also given.

1 Introduction

2 State of the Art

3 Enantioselective α-Arylation of Acyclic Ketones

4 Summary and Conclusions



Publication History

Received: 27 April 2021

Accepted after revision: 09 May 2021

Accepted Manuscript online:
09 May 2021

Article published online:
08 June 2021

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