Asymmetric palladium-catalyzed hydroarylation of styrenes and dienes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.tet.2011.02.027

Alkenes are desirable and highly versatile starting materials for organic transformations, and well-known substrates for palladium catalysis. Typically, these reactions result in the formation of a new alkene product via β-hydride elimination. In contrast to this scenario, our laboratory has been involved in the development of alkene hydro- and difunctionalization reactions, where β-hydride elimination can be controlled. We report herein the development of an asymmetric palladium-catalyzed hydroarylation, which yields diarylmethine products in up to 75% ee. Interestingly, a linear free energy relationship is observed between the steric bulk of the ligand within a certain range and the ee of the reaction.