Stereodivergent Synthesis of Allenes with α,β‐Adjacent Central Chiralities Empowered by Synergistic Pd/Cu Catalysis

Abstract

AbstractThe stereodivergent synthesis of allene compounds bearing α,β‐adjacent central chiralities has been realized via the Pd/Cu‐catalyzed dynamic kinetic asymmetric alkylation of racemic allenylic esters. The matched reactivity of bimetallic catalytic system enables the challenging reaction of racemic aryl‐substituted allenylic acetates with sterically crowded aldimine esters smoothly under mild reaction conditions. Various chiral non‐natural amino acids bearing a terminal allenyl group are easily synthesized in high yields and with excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities (up to >20 : 1 dr, >99 % ee). Importantly, all four stereoisomers of the product can be readily accessed by switching the configurations of the two chiral metal catalysts. Furthermore, the easy interconversion between the uncommonη3‐butadienyl palladium intermediate featuring a weak C=C/Pd coordination bond and a stable Csp2−Pd bond is beneficial for the dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation process (DyKAT).