Enantioselective Addition of Cyclic Ketones to Unactivated Alkenes Enabled by Amine/Pd(II) Cooperative Catalysis

Amine/Pd­(II)
cooperative catalysis has enabled a highly enantioselective
addition of cyclic ketones to unactivated alkenes. The hallmark of
the strategy includes amide-directed, regioselective activation of
alkenes by Pd­(II) and enhancing the nucleophilicity of α-carbon
of the ketones by enamine catalysis to synergistically drive the reaction,
which is basically unable to be accessed by a single catalyst. The
combination of a commercially available Pd­(II) catalyst and diphenylprolinol
was able to provide the γ-addition products with good to high
yields and efficient stereochemical control (up to 95% ee).