ChemInform Abstract: An Efficient Approach for the Construction of Trifluoromethylated All‐Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters: Enantioselective Ni(II)‐Catalyzed Michael Addition of 2‐Acetyl Azaarene to β,β‐Disubstituted Nitroalkenes.

Abstract

The first example of a highly enantioselective Michael addition of 2-acetyl azaarenes with β,β-disubstituted nitroalkenes was achieved using a Ni(acac)2–bisoxazoline complex as a catalyst, which afforded chiral compounds with an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter bearing a CF3 group in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee). This reaction, featuring mild conditions, excellent enantioselectivity and broad generality, provides a new efficient strategy for the construction of trifluoromethylated all-carbon quaternary stereocenters.