Formation of a Chiral Quaternary Centers via Asymmetric Hydrovinylation

Significance

Highly enantioselective hydrovinylations were accomplished on vinylarenes, a class of substrates that has typically eluded this reactivity. Using nickel catalysis and Feringa’s phosphoramidite ligand A, exceptional selectivities for the HV products 2 were obtained, as opposed to oligomeric products (>95% for the benzyl position). Using this strategy, the authors prepared a variety of profen API precursors 2b-d in enantiopure form. These synthons are usually prepared by resolution.