A Pd⁰-catalyzed asymmetric Nazarov-type cyclization is described. The optimized ligand for the reaction incorporates a weakly coordinating pyridine ring into a TADDOL-derived phosphoramidite (TADDOL=α,α,α,α-tetraaryl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dimethanol). The reaction leads to the formation of cyclopentenones as single diastereoisomers that incorporate two contiguous asymmetric centers, one tertiary and one an all-carbon-atom quaternary stereocenter, in high yield and optical purity. It is noteworthy that the reaction does not require that substrates should be activated by aryl substituents.

A recently reported Pd⁰-catalyzed asymmetric Nazarov-type cyclization has been successfully applied in the key step of the first catalytic asymmetric total synthesis of (−)-rocaglamide (natural) and (+)-rocaglamide. The stereochemistry at the C3 position that controls the stereochemistry of all other stereocenters is determined in the cyclization step. This versatile and modular synthesis proceeds from simple reagents.

A recently reported Pd⁰-catalyzed asymmetric Nazarov-type cyclization has been successfully applied in the key step of the first catalytic asymmetric total synthesis of (−)-rocaglamide (natural) and (+)-rocaglamide. The stereochemistry at the C3 position that controls the stereochemistry of all other stereocenters is determined in the cyclization step. This versatile and modular synthesis proceeds from simple reagents.

A Pd⁰-catalyzed asymmetric Nazarov-type cyclization is described. The optimized ligand for the reaction incorporates a weakly coordinating pyridine ring into a TADDOL-derived phosphoramidite (TADDOL=α,α,α,α-tetraaryl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dimethanol). The reaction leads to the formation of cyclopentenones as single diastereoisomers that incorporate two contiguous asymmetric centers, one tertiary and one an all-carbon-atom quaternary stereocenter, in high yield and optical purity. It is noteworthy that the reaction does not require that substrates should be activated by aryl substituents.

The diastereoselective asymmetric synthesis of vicinal all-carbon-atom quaternary stereocenters is a challenging problem in organic synthesis for which only few solutions have been described. A catalytic asymmetric Nazarov cyclization of fully substituted dienones that provides cyclopentenone derivatives with vicinal quaternary stereocenters in high optical purity and as single diastereoisomers is now reported.

The diastereoselective asymmetric synthesis of vicinal all-carbon-atom quaternary stereocenters is a challenging problem in organic synthesis for which only few solutions have been described. A catalytic asymmetric Nazarov cyclization of fully substituted dienones that provides cyclopentenone derivatives with vicinal quaternary stereocenters in high optical purity and as single diastereoisomers is now reported.