Summary Molecules containing all-carbon quaternary stereocenters – carbon atoms bonded to four distinct carbon substituents – are prevalent in Nature. However, the construction of such compounds in an enantioselective fashion remains a long-standing challenge to synthetic organic chemists. In particular, methods for forging quaternary stereocenters that are remote from other functional groups are underdeveloped. Herein we report a catalytic and enantioselective intermolecular Heck-type reaction of trisubstituted-alkenyl alcohols with aryl boronic acids. The reported method allows direct access to quaternary all-carbon-substituted β-, γ-, δ-, ε- or ζ aryl carbonyl compounds, as the unsaturation of the alkene is relayed to the alcohol resulting in the formation of a carbonyl group. The scope of the process also includes incorporation of pre-existing stereocenters along the alkyl chain, which links the alkene and the alcohol, wherein the stereocenter is preserved. The described method is flexible, allowing access to diverse building blocks containing an enantiomerically enriched, quaternary center.

We report a highly enantioselective intermolecular Heck reaction of alkenyl triflates and acyclic primary or racemic secondary alkenols. The mild reaction conditions permit installation of a wide range of alkenyl groups at positions β, γ or δ to a carbonyl group in high enantioselectivity. The success of this reaction is attributed to the use of electron-withdrawing alkenyl triflates, which offer selective β-hydride elimination followed by migration of the catalyst through the alkyl chain to give the alkenylated carbonyl products. The synthetic utility of the process is demonstrated by a two-step modification of a reaction product to yield a tricyclic core structure, present in various natural products.

In this report, we describe the generation of remote allylic quaternary stereocenters β, γ, and δ relative to a carbonyl in high enantioselectivity. We utilize a redox-relay Heck reaction between alkenyl triflates and acyclic trisubstituted alkenols of varying chain-lengths. A wide array of terminal (E)-alkenyl triflates are suitable for this process. The utility of this functionalization is validated further by conversion of the products, via simple organic processes to access remotely functionalized chiral tertiary acid, amine and alcohol products.

This report details a palladium-catalyzed process to access highly functionalized optically active allylic aryl ethers. A number of electron-deficient alkenyl triflates underwent enantio- and site-selective coupling with acyclic aryl enol ethers in the presence of a chiral palladium catalyst. This transform provides chiral allylic ether products in high yields and excellent enantiomeric ratios furnishing a unique disconnection to incorporate heteroatoms at a stereocenter. Finally, the applicability of the products to target synthesis was demonstrated through the formation of a chiral allylic alcohol and the generation of a flavone-inspired product.

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