Nickel-Catalyzed Enantioselective Addition of Styrenes to Cyclic N-Sulfonyl α-Ketiminoesters

Enantioselective addition of styrenes to cyclic N-sulfonyl alpha-ketiminoesters was developed using the complex of Ni(ClO4)(2) with chiral phosphine complex as a catalyst. A range of chiral benzofused 5-membered sultams bearing alkenylated or allylated alpha-tetrasubstituted amino ester framework were afforded in excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) as potential biologically active compounds for drug research.