Enantioselective synthesis of gem-diarylalkanes by transition metal-catalyzed asymmetric arylations (TMCAAr)

Chiral gem(1,1)-diaryl containing tertiary or quaternary stereogenic centers are present in many natural products and important pharmacophores. While numerous catalytic asymmetric methods enable access to 1,1-diaryl motifs, transition metal-catalyzed asymmetric arylations (TMCAAr) are one of the most powerful methods to prepare enantiopure gem-diarylalkane compounds. The main methodology includes enantioselective 1,2- or 1,4-additions across C=O, C=N and C=C bonds by arylmetallic reagents; aryl cross-couplings of olefins, benzylic (pseudo) halides and aziridines; asymmetric aryl substitution reactions of allylic substrates; and isotopic benzylic C-H arylation.