10.1002/anie.201600379
The research aims to develop a highly enantioselective method for synthesizing chiral 1,4-benzodioxanes, 1,4-benzooxazines, and chromans, which are important structural units in many bioactive natural products and drugs. The study focuses on using palladium-catalyzed alkene aryloxyarylation reactions, with key chemicals including 2-((2-methylallyl)oxy)phenol (1a), various aryl halides such as bromobenzene (2a), and chiral monophosphorus ligands like L4 and L5. The researchers optimized the reaction conditions, finding that a strong base like NaOtBu and a solvent like hexafluorobenzene (C6F6) enhanced both yield and enantioselectivity. The method demonstrated high yields (up to 90%) and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 95% ee) for a range of substrates, including those with different aryl and heteroaryl groups. The study concludes that the chiral monophosphorus ligands L4 and L5 are crucial for the high reactivity and enantioselectivity of the transformations. The findings not only provide a practical route for synthesizing these chiral compounds but also offer valuable insights into the design of better catalytic systems for similar transformations.