An inside job: Enantioselective phthalide synthesis was achieved through internal redox allylation of o-phthalaldehydes. Oxidative esterification is balanced by reductive carbonyl addition to achieve an overall redox-neutral process. This method enabled formal syntheses of ent-spirolaxine methyl ether and CJ-12,954.
Keywords: C−C Bond Formation; Homogeneous Catalysis; Hydrogen Transfer; Iridium; asymmetric catalysis.
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