Enantioselective Radical-Polar Crossover Reactions of Indanonecarboxamides with Alkenes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/anie.201914151

Highly efficient asymmetric intermolecular radical-polar crossover reactions were realized by combining a chiral N,N′-dioxide/Ni^II complex catalyst with Ag₂O under mild reaction conditions. Various terminal alkenes and indanonecarboxamides/esters underwent radical addition/cyclization reactions to afford spiro-iminolactones and spirolactones with good to excellent yields (up to 99 %) and enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee). Furthermore, a range of different radical-mediated oxidation/elimination or epoxide ring-opening products were obtained under mild reaction conditions. The Lewis acid catalysts exhibited excellent performance and precluded the strong background reaction.