Prof. Wang Xiaoming’s group at the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has demonstrated the first nickel – titanium, bimetallic, system – catalyzed, asymmetric reductive aryl – benzylation of alkenes using benzyl alcohols, which afforded a series of biologically important benzene – fused cyclic compounds in good yields with high enantiomeric excess( ee ) values. The work was published in Cell Reports Physical Science.
Difunctionalization of alkenes can rapidly construct complex molecules, in particular, Ni – catalyzed asymmetric reductive dicarbofunctionalization of tethered alkenes is one of the most effective methods for the rapid assembly of various chiral cyclic frameworks.
Since alcohols are ubiquitous in nature and medicine, the direct use of alcohols as coupling partners via