Pd-Catalyzed Asymmetric Acyl-Carbamoylation of an Alkene to Construct an α-Quaternary Chiral Cycloketone

Herein, we report the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric acyl-carbamoylation of an alkene by employing thioesters as the acyl electrophiles and t-BuNC as the carbamoyl reagent, affording an alpha-quaternary chiral cycloketone in synthetically useful yields with excellent enantioselectivity. The reaction proceeded via asymmetric 1,2-migratory insertions of acyl-Pd into alkenes and subsequent migratory insertion of isocyanides into C(sp(3))-Pd-II. The product could be diversified to some valuable skeletons with retention of enantiopurity, demonstrating the synthetic utility of this protocol.

Automated summary

In this study, the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric acyl-carbamoylation reaction was reported, producing alpha-quaternary chiral cycloketone with high yields and excellent enantioselectivity. The reaction proceeded via asymmetric 1,2-migratory insertions of acyl-Pd into alkenes and subsequent migratory insertion of isocyanides into C(sp(3))-Pd-II. The product could be further diversified, showcasing the synthetic utility of this protocol.