Cobalt-Catalyzed Regio- and Enantioselective Allylic Alkylation of Malononitriles

Cobalt-catalyzed highly branched- and enantioselective allylic alkylation of malononitriles has been developed. Chiral gamma,delta-unsaturated malononitriles could be synthesized with >20:1 branched/linear regioselectivity and up to 99% enantiomeric excess from easily accessible racemic allylic carbonates under mild reaction conditions. The electron-rich and sterically less hindered bisoxazolinephosphine ligand is essential to realize the high reactivity in the carbon-carbon bond formation process.