Enantiospecific, Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Couplings of Allylic Pivalates and Arylboroxines

We
have developed an enantiospecific, nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling
of unsymmetric 1,3-disubstituted allylic pivalates with arylboroxines.
The success of this reaction relies on the use of BnPPh2 as a supporting ligand for the nickel(0) catalyst and NaOMe as a
base. This method shows excellent functional group tolerance and broad
scope in both the allylic pivalate and arylboroxine, enabling the
preparation of 1,3-diaryl allylic products in high yields with excellent
levels of regioselectivity and stereochemical fidelity.