An Enantioselective, Intermolecular α-Arylation of Ester Enolates To Form Tertiary Stereocenters

In transition-metal catalyzed, asymmetric α-arylation of carbonyl compounds, formation of tertiary centers with high enantioselectivity is a longstanding problem, due to easy enolization of the monoarylation products. Herein, we report such examples using a palladium catalyst supported by a new, (R)-H₈-BINOL-derived monophosphine. Silyl ketene acetals, together with a weakly basic activator, were used as equivalents of ester anions, and they reacted smoothly with aryl triflates in excellent enantiomeric excess (ee). The usefulness of the reaction was demonstrated in a gram-scale synthesis of (S)-Naproxen in 92% ee.