Highly Selective Allylic Alkylation with a Carbon Nucleophile at the More Substituted Allylic Terminus Catalyzed by an Iridium Complex: An Efficient Method for Constructing Quaternary Carbon Centers

The selective construction of quaternary carbon centers, which are frequently found in natural products, is essential to many syntheses. A new method relying on the iridium complex [Ir(cod)Cl]2 as the catalyst can be used for the allylic alkylation of acyclic compounds 1 [Eq (a)]. The products are obtained in yields between 70 and 85% and with a selectivity of 100%. cod = cyclooctadiene.