Under Pd catalysis with a newly synthesized electron-deficient heterocycle, 2-(4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-yl)pyrimidine (as the ligand), the reaction of α,β-unsaturated esters with arylboronic acids afforded a wide range of 3,3-disubstituted indan-1-ones bearing a quaternary carbon in high yields. Mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction involves a tandem conjugate addition/1,4-Pd shift followed by a cyclization.

A wide range of alkyl-substituted allyl reagents, as well as nonstabilized carbon nucleophiles, was successfully used for the first time in the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction, affording the corresponding allylic alkylated products in high yields with high enantioselectivities. The usefulness of the protocol has been demonstrated by the enantioselective synthesis of an important chiral building block and enantiomer of Dubiusamine A.

An asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of vinyl epoxides with α,β-unsaturated ketones, the single activated electron-deficient alkenes, has been achieved under Pd-catalysis in excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity. The utilities of the protocol are demonstrated by transformation of the products into other useful chiral molecules. Density functional theory calculations rationalize the stereocontrol of the reaction.

AbstractA Pd-catalyzed cyclopropanation reaction with aliphatic ketones as nucleophiles using a modified pyridine-NHC ligand was achieved. The reaction afforded the corresponding cyclopropanes in moderate to good yields with high cyclopropane/allylation selectivity.

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric intermolecular Mizoroki–Heck reaction for the construction of a chiral quaternary carbon center is developed, affording 2,2-disubstituted 2,5-dihydrofurans in high yield with excellent enantioselectivity. The products are easily converted into the corresponding butenolides with retention of enantioselectivity.

The kinetic resolution of 2-substituted-2,3-dihydro-4-pyridones was realized via a Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution reaction using a commercially available (S)-P-Phos as a ligand, affording optically active dihydropyridones and C-allylated dihydropyridones in high yields and good enantioselectivities with the S-factor up to 43. With this protocol, a catalytic asymmetric total synthesis of indolizidine (−)-209I was realized for the first time.

A highly regioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of dienyl esters with nitromethane has been developed, providing selective access to the C-5 attacked products. The structures of the ligands as well as the steric effect of the substrates are important factors in determining the regiochemical outcome of the reaction.

A new strategy for the construction of a CC–CF3 subunit has been developed via CuBr-catalyzed domino cyclization–trifluoromethylation of homopropargyl amines with Umemoto's reagent. 4-Trifluoromethyl-2,3-dihydro-pyrroliums were produced in high yields. The usefulness of these products has been demonstrated by the transformation of them into various other trifluoromethylated molecules.

Desymmetrization of carbon nucleophiles by palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation has been realized for the first time. Products with three chiral centers were obtained in good yield and with high diastereo- and enantioselectivity. The method offers an efficient access to optically active tropane derivatives.

An efficient way to access functionalized methylenecyclopropanes has been developed by palladacycle-catalyzed cyclopropanation of bicyclic alkenes with propiolates in high yields. The structure of the palladacycle was kept intact in the reaction, shown by 31P NMR spectrum studies. A rational mechanism has been proposed with a deuterium-labeled experiment. The usefulness of the functionalized methylenecyclopropanes has also been demonstrated.

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric intermolecular Mizoroki–Heck reaction for the construction of a chiral quaternary carbon center is developed, affording 2,2-disubstituted 2,5-dihydrofurans in high yield with excellent enantioselectivity. The products are easily converted into the corresponding butenolides with retention of enantioselectivity.

A highly regioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of dienyl esters with nitromethane has been developed, providing selective access to the C-5 attacked products. The structures of the ligands as well as the steric effect of the substrates are important factors in determining the regiochemical outcome of the reaction.

A new strategy for the construction of a CC–CF3 subunit has been developed via CuBr-catalyzed domino cyclization–trifluoromethylation of homopropargyl amines with Umemoto's reagent. 4-Trifluoromethyl-2,3-dihydro-pyrroliums were produced in high yields. The usefulness of these products has been demonstrated by the transformation of them into various other trifluoromethylated molecules.