Catalytic enantioselective fluorination of α-cyano acetates catalyzed by chiral palladium complexes

The catalytic enantioselective electrophilic fluorination promoted chiral palladium complexes is described. Treatment of alpha-cyano acetates with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide as the fluorine source under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding alpha-cyano alpha-fluoro acetates in high yields with excellent enantiomeric excesses (85-99% ee). (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.