Asymmetric α-Pentadienylation of β-Ketocarbonyls and Aldehydes by Synergistic Pd/Chiral Primary Amine Catalysis

Direct alkylation with skipped enynes or cyclopropropylacetylenes represents an ideal process for the installation of pentadienyl group in terms of atom- and step-economy.The development of catalytic asymmetric versions has been frequently pursued and most of the successes have been achieved with enolizable aldehydes.We herein describe a synergistic chiral primary amine/Pd catalysis for asymmetric α-pentadienylation of β-ketocarbonyls and aldehydes with skipped enynes or cyclopropropylacetylenes.The reaction features the construction of acyclic all-carbon quaternary centers with high enantioselectivity,and good functional group tolerance and scalability.