Tail‐To‐Tail Stereoselective Dimerization of Acrylate Derivatives via Iridium‐Catalyzed Vinylic sp² C−H Activation

Abstract

We describe a cationic Ir‐catalyzed tail‐to‐tail dimerization of aryl acrylates starting from vinylic sp2 C−H activation, which gives industrially useful adipic acid ester derivatives in high yields. We further expanded the reaction to an enantioselective dimerization using aryl methacrylates and achieved the first example of catalytic asymmetric dimerization of acrylate derivatives.