Iridium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Alkene Hydroalkylation via a Heteroaryl-Directed Enolization-Decarboxylation Sequence

J Am Chem Soc. 2023 Nov 8;145(44):23918-23924. doi: 10.1021/jacs.3c10163. Epub 2023 Oct 25.

Abstract

Upon exposure to a cationic Ir(I)-complex modified with the chiral diphosphine DuanPhos, hydroalkylations of styrenes and α-olefins with diverse heteroaryl tert-butyl acetates occur with complete branched selectivity and very high enantioselectivity. The initial adducts undergo acid promoted decarboxylation in situ to provide alkylated heteroarenes possessing defined β-stereocenters. The processes are postulated to proceed via a stereodefined chiral Ir-enolate, which arises upon heteroarene directed enolization of the heteroaryl acetate precursor. The method can be classified as an enantioselective decarboxylative C(sp3)-C(sp3) cross-coupling.