Atropodiastereoselective C-H Olefination of Biphenyl p-Tolyl Sulfoxides with Acrylates

A stereoselective method for the synthesis of axially chiral biaryl scaffolds by CH bond functionalization was accomplished using chiral sulfoxide both as the directing group enabling the regioselective activation of a CH bond and as the chiral auxiliary generating an asymmetric environment in the coordination sphere of the metal complex. We have demonstrated the directing ability of the p-tolylsulfinyl group in promoting the Pd(II)-catalyzed CH olefination of biphenyls.