Iridium-catalyzed Z-retentive asymmetric allylic substitution reactions

Abstract

Keeping Z-olefins intact with iridium Transition metal catalysis offers a versatile means of modifying carbon centers adjacent to carbon-carbon double bonds. However, in the course of these reactions, the double bond tends to get weakened, allowing its substituents to swivel back and forth. Thus, if two large groups start out on the same side of the bond axis (a geometry known as a Z-olefin), they end up on opposite sides in the product. Jiang et al. report a chiral iridium catalyst that prevents this swiveling just long enough to substitute the adjacent carbon enantioselectively (see the Perspective by Malcolmson). Science, this issue p. 380; see also p. 345 An iridium catalyst stabilizes the less-favored olefin intermediate long enough to functionalize an adjacent stereocenter. Z-Olefins are challenging synthetic targets owing to their relative thermodynamic instability. Transition metal–catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions are well known for installing stereocenters adjacent to branched or E-linear olefins. However, analogous reactions for the synthesis of optically active Z-olefin products are rare. Here we report iridium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions that retain Z-olefin geometries while establishing an adjacent quaternary stereocenter. The formation of transient anti-π-allyl-iridium intermediates and their capture by external nucleophiles before isomerization to the thermodynamically more stable syn-π-allyl-iridium counterparts have been observed. These results provide a promising method for preparing chiral Z-olefinic compounds.