α-Arylation of α-Amino Acid Derivatives with Arynes via Memory of Chirality: Asymmetric Synthesis of Benzocyclobutenones with Tetrasubstituted Carbon

A method for asymmetric alpha-arylation of alpha-amino acid derivatives via memory of chirality has been developed. Addition of axially chiral enolates, generated from alpha-amino acid derivatives, to in situ generated arynes, followed by intramolecular C-acylation of the resulting aryl metallic species, gave benzocyclobutenones with a tetrasubstituted carbon with retention of configuration in up to 99% ee.