Iridium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Allylic Substitution with Aqueous Solutions of Nucleophiles

The iridium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution under biphasic conditions is reported. This approach allows the use of various unstable and/or volatile nucleophiles including hydrazines, methylamine, t-butyl hydroperoxide, N-hydroxylamine, alpha-chloroacetaldehyde and glutaraldehyde. This transformation provides rapid access to a broad range of products from simple starting materials in good yields and up to >99% ee and 20:1 d.r. Additionally, these products can be elaborated efficiently into a diverse set of cyclic and acyclic compounds, bearing up to four stereocenters.