A stereodivergent
synthesis of chiral β-lactams with contiguous
tertiary/quaternary/tertiary stereocenters has been achieved by a
Cu/Ir-catalyzed three-component interrupted Kinugasa allylic alkylation
reaction. The two catalysts independently exert high local stereocontrol,
providing access to four of the eight possible stereoisomers in high
yields with >99% ee. The features of this strategy are the asymmetric
simultaneous dual metal-catalyzed cascade reactions with stereoselective
coupling of highly transient organometallic intermediates.