Catalytic asymmetric rearrangement of allylic N-aryl trifluoroacetimidates.: A useful method for transforming prochiral allylic alcohols to chiral allylic amines

A useful method for the conversion of prochiral allylic alcohols to chiral allylic amines of high enantiopurity is reported. N-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-trifluoroacetimidates; are excellent substrates for the palladium(II)-catalyzed allylic imidate rearrangement as the allylic trifluoroacetamide products can be deprotected in two steps to provide chiral nonracemic allylic amines. Di-mu-chlorobis[(eta(5)-(S)-(pR)-2-(2'-(4'-isopropyl))oxazolinylcyclo-pentadienyl, 1-C,3'-N))(eta(4)-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt]dipalladium (6a, COP-CI) is a superior catalyst because it does not require activation with silver salts and provides rearranged allylic trifluoroacetamides in good yields and high enantiomeric purities.