Enantioselective Rhodium-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution with a Nitrile Anion: Construction of Acyclic Quaternary Carbon Stereogenic Centers

A direct and highly enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of allyl benzoate with α-substituted benzyl nitrile pronucleophiles is described. This simple protocol provides a new approach toward the synthesis of acyclic quaternary carbon stereogenic centers and provides the first example of the direct asymmetric alkylation of a nitrile anion. The synthetic utility of the nitrile products is amply demonstrated through conversion to various functional groups and the synthesis of a bioactive aryl piperazine in an expeditious four-step sequence.