This Review compiles the evolution, mechanistic understanding, and more recent advances in enantioselective Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution and decarboxylative and oxidative allylic substitutions. For each reaction, the catalytic data, as well as examples of their application to the synthesis of more complex molecules, are collected. Sections in which we discuss key mechanistic aspects for high selectivity and a comparison with other metals (with advantages and disadvantages) are also included. For Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution, the catalytic data are grouped according to the type of nucleophile employed. Because of the prominent position of the use of stabilized carbon nucleophiles and heteronucleophiles, many chiral ligands have been developed. To better compare the results, they are presented grouped by ligand types. Pd-catalyzed asymmetric decarboxylative reactions are mainly promoted by PHOX or Trost ligands, which justifies organizing this section in chronological order. For asymmetric oxidative allylic substitution the results are grouped according to the type of nucleophile used.

Optically pure alcohols are abundant in nature and attractive as feedstock for organic synthesis but challenging for further transformation using atom efficient and sustainable methodologies, particularly when there is a desire to conserve the chirality. Usually, substitution of the OH group of stereogenic alcohols with conservation of chirality requires derivatization as part of a complex, stoichiometric procedure. We herein demonstrate that a simple, inexpensive, and environmentally benign iron(III) catalyst promotes the direct intramolecular substitution of enantiomerically enriched secondary and tertiary alcohols with O -, N -, and S -centered nucleophiles to generate valuable 5-membered, 6-membered and aryl-fused 6-membered heterocyclic compounds with chirality transfer and water as the only byproduct. The power of the methodology is demonstrated in the total synthesis of (+)-lentiginosine from D-glucose where iron-catalysis is used in a key step. Adoption of this methodology will contribute towards the transition to sustainable and bio-based processes in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries.

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The Ir-MaxPHOX-type catalysts demonstrated high catalytic performance in the hydrogenation of a wide range of nonchelating olefins with different geometries, substitution patterns, and degrees of functionalization. These air-stable and readily available catalysts have been successfully applied in the asymmetric hydrogenation of di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted olefins (ee′s up to 99%). The combination of theoretical calculations and deuterium labeling experiments led to the uncovering of the factors responsible for the enantioselectivity observed in the reaction, allowing the rationalization of the most suitable substrates for these Ir-catalysts.

Phosphite-thioether ligands with a simple modular architecture, derived from inexpensive l-(+)-tartaric acid and d-mannitol, have been for the first time successfully applied (ee values up to 99 %) in the synthesis of 2-aminotetralines and 3-aminochromanes by metal-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of cyclic β-enamides. The ligands have the advantages of the robustness of the thioether/phosphite moieties and the extra control provided by the flexibility of the chiral pocket through the presence of a biaryl phosphite group and a modular carbohydrate-derived backbone. Moreover, they are solid and stable to air and they are therefore easy to handle, manipulate, and store. Usefully, both enantiomers of the hydrogenated products were obtained by simply switching from Rh to Ir. Low hydrogen pressure and environmentally friendly propylene carbonate can be used, with no loss of selectivity.

A modular ligand library of α‐amino acid hydroxyamides and thioamides was prepared from 10 different N‐tert‐butyloxycarbonyl‐protected α‐amino acids and three different amino alcohols derived from 2,3‐O‐isopropylidene‐α‐d‐mannofuranoside. The ligand library was evaluated in the half‐sandwich ruthenium‐ and rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of a wide array of ketone substrates, including simple as well as sterically demanding aryl alkyl ketones, aryl fluoroalkyl ketones, heteroaromatic alkyl ketones, aliphatic, conjugated and propargylic ketones. Under the optimized reaction conditions, secondary alcohols were obtained in high yields and in enantioselectivities up to >99%. The choice of ligand/catalyst allowed for the generation of both enantiomers of the secondary alcohols, where the ruthenium‐hydroxyamide and the rhodium‐thioamide catalysts act complementarily towards each other. The catalytic systems were also evaluated in the tandem isomerization/asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of racemic allylic alcohols to yield enantiomerically enriched saturated secondary alcohols in up to 98% ee. Furthermore, the catalytic tandem α‐alkylation/asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of acetophenones and 3‐acetylpyridine with primary alcohols as alkylating and reducing agents was studied. Secondary alcohols containing an elongated alkyl chain were obtained in up to 92% ee.magnified image

A modular approach employing indene as common starting material, has enabled the straightforward preparation in three reaction steps of P-thioether ligands for the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution. The analysis of a starting library of Pthioether ligands based on rational design and theoretical calculations has led to the discovery of an optimized anthracenethiol derivative with excellent behavior in the reaction of choice. Improving most approaches reported to date, this ligand presents a broad substrate and nucleophile scope. Excellent enantioselectivities have been achieved for a range of linear and cyclic allylic substrates using a large number of C-, N-and O-nucleophiles (40 compounds in total). The species responsible for the catalytic activity have been further investigated by NMR in order to clearly establish the origin of the enantioselectivity. The resulting products have been derivatized by means of ring-closing metathesis or Pauson-Khand reactions to further prove the synthetic versatility of the methodology for preparing enantiopure complex structures. Scheme 1. Three-step synthesis of phosphite/phosphinite-thioether ligands L1-L7a-g from indene. (i) (R,R)-Mn-salen catalyst, 4-PPNO, aq. NaClO, CH2Cl2; 10 (ii) RSH, NaOH, dioxane/H2O (10:1); 11 (iii) ClP(OR 1 R 2 )2; (OR 1 R 2 )2= a-c, Py, toluene and (iv) ClPR 3 2; R 3 = d-g, NEt3, toluene.All ligands were characterized by 31 P{ 1 H}, 1 H and 13 C{ 1 H} NMR spectroscopy and HRMS. All data were in agreement with assigned structures. 13 See experimental section for purification and characterization details.

A library of modular iridium complexes derived from thioether-phosphite/phosphinite ligands has been evaluated in the asymmetric iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation of minimally functionalized olefins. The modular ligand design has been shown to be crucial in finding highly selective catalysts for each substrate. A DFT study of the transition state responsible for the enantiocontrol in the Ir-catalyzed hydrogenation is also described and used for further optimization of the crucial stereodefining moieties. Excellent enantioselectivities (enantiomeric excess (ee) values up to 99 %) have been obtained for a range of substrates, including E- and Z-trisubstituted and disubstituted olefins, α,β-unsaturated enones, tri- and disubstituted alkenylboronic esters, and olefins with trifluoromethyl substituents.