Asymmetric
allylic alkylation mediated by transition metals provides
an efficient strategy to form quaternary stereogenic centers. While
this transformation is dominated by the use of second- and third-row
transition metals (e.g., Pd, Rh, and Ir), recent developments have
revealed the potential of first-row transition metals, which provide
not only a less expensive and potentially equally efficient alternative
but also new mechanistic possibilities. This review summarizes examples
for the assembly of quaternary stereocenters using prochiral allylic
substrates and hard, achiral nucleophiles in the presence of copper
complexes and highlights the complementary approaches with soft, prochiral
nucleophiles catalyzed by chiral cobalt and nickel complexes.