Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of -Aryl Ketones

Quaternary centers can be created asymmetrically in high enantiomeric excess by the proper choice of ligand and metal cation in the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of α-aryl ketones. A broad range of ketone enolates can be tolerated in the reaction, as illustrated by the synthesis of conformationally constrained β-tetralone in 96 % ee (see scheme, DBU=1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene).