Effects of catalyst activation and ligand steric properties on the enantioselective allylation of amines and phenoxides

The yields, enantioselectivities, and regioselectivities of the reactions of amines and phenoxides with allylic carbonates in the presence of a metallacyclic iridium catalyst were compared. These data show that both preactivation of the catalyst and the size of the ligand affect the yield, enantioselectivity, and regioselectivity. With the activated catalyst containing a bis-naphthethylamino group, the allylic amination and etherification of a broad range of allylic carbonates occurred in high yields and with high regioselectivities and enantioselectivities.