The long-range deconjugative isomerization of a broad range of α,β-unsaturated amides, esters, and ketones by an in situ generated palladium hydride catalyst is described. This redox-economical process is triggered by a hydrometalation event and is thermodynamically driven by the refunctionalization of a primary or a secondary alcohol into an aldehyde or a ketone. Di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted carbon-carbon double bonds react with similar efficiency; the system is tolerant toward a variety of functional groups, and olefin migration can be sustained over 30 carbon atoms. The refunctionalized products are usually isolated in good to excellent yield. Mechanistic investigations are in support of a chain-walking process consisting of repeated migratory insertions and β-H eliminations. The bidirectionality of the isomerization reaction was established by isotopic labeling experiments using a substrate with a double bond isolated from both terminal functions. The palladium hydride was also found to be directly involved in the product-forming tautomerization step. The ambiphilic character of the in situ generated [Pd-H] was demonstrated using isomeric trisubstituted α,β-unsaturated esters. Finally, the high levels of enantioselectivity obtained in the isomerization of a small set of α-substituted α,β-unsaturated ketones augur well for the successful development of an enantioselective version of this unconventional isomerization.

A dual catalytic sp 3 α C−H arylation and alkylation of benzamides with organic halides is described. This protocol exhibits an exquisite site selectivity, chemoselectivity, and enantioselectivity pattern, offering a complementary reactivity mode to existing sp 3 arylation or alkylations via transition metal catalysis or photoredox events.

A catalytic deaminative alkylation of unactivated olefins is described. The protocol is characterized by its mild conditions, wide scope, including the use of ethylene as substrate, and exquisite siteselectivity pattern for both α-olefins and internal olefins, thus unlocking a new catalytic platform to forge sp 3 −sp 3 linkages, even in the context of late-stage functionalization.

Starting from readily available alkenyl methyl ethers, the stereoselective preparation of highly substituted alkenes by two complementary multicatalytic sequential isomerization/cross-coupling sequences is described. Both elementary steps of these sequences are challenging processes when considered independently. A cationic iridium catalyst was identified for the stereoselective isomerization of allyl methyl ethers and was found to be compatible with a nickel catalyst for the subsequent cross-coupling of the in situ generated methyl vinyl ethers with various Grignard reagents. The method is compatible with sensitive functional groups and a multitude of olefinic substitution patterns to deliver products with high control of the newly generated C═C bond. A highly enantioselective variant of this [Ir/Ni] sequence has been established using a chiral iridium precatalyst. A complementary [Pd/Ni] catalytic sequence has been optimized for alkenyl methyl ethers with a remote C═C bond. The final alkenes were isolated with a lower level of stereocontrol. Upon proper choice of the Grignard reagent, we demonstrated that C( sp)-C( sp) and C( sp)-C( sp) bonds can be constructed with both systems delivering products that would be difficult to access by conventional methods.

The remote functionalization of α,β-unsaturated carbonyls by an array of multimetallic sequential catalytic systems is described. The reactions are triggered by hydrometalation using [Pd−H] or [Ru−H] isomerization catalysts and driven by the formation of thermodynamically more stable 1,2-vinyl arenes. The Pd-catalyzed deconjugative isomerization was combined with a Cu-catalyzed β-borylation of the transiently generated styrenyl derivatives to deliver a range of products that would not be accessible with the use of a single catalyst. [Pd/Cu] catalytic systems were also identified for the highly enantioselective α-hydroboration and α-hydroamination of the styrenyl intermediates. Difunctionalization simultaneously at the benzylic and homobenzylic positions was achieved by combining the isomerization process with Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation (SAD) using [Pd/Os] or [Ru/Os] couples. Starting from a simple α,β-unsaturated ester, an isomerization/ dihydroxylation/lactonization sequence gave access to a naturally occurring γ-butyrolactone in good yield, with excellent diastereo-and enantioselectivity.