Intermolecular Enantioselective Nickel‐Catalyzed Arylation of Un‐Activated C(sp 3 )─H Bond

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Authors: Erwan Brunard, Fengjie Huang, Àlex Díaz‐Jiménez, Sofiya Kostiukovska, Joanna Wencel‐Delord
Cited by: 3
References: 73

Abstract

)─H arylation, providing direct access to challenging all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers. Key to this success is the use of a specially designed BINOL-derived ligand, which enables efficient desymmetrization of gem-dimethyl groups through a rate- and enantio-determining C─H activation step. This catalytic system demonstrates remarkable functional group tolerance, affording a wide variety of arylated products in high yields (up to 85%) and with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 95:5 e.r.). Mechanistic studies, combining kinetic isotope effect measurements, deuterium labeling, and DFT calculations, reveal that the Ni-BINOL complex promotes a unique concerted metalation-deprotonation pathway assisted by ligand coordination and π-π interactions. This work establishes nickel as a powerful and sustainable alternative to precious metals for asymmetric C─H activation, opening new perspectives for the construction of enantioenriched quaternary carbon centers of high relevance in drug discovery and materials science.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Catalytic C–H Functionalization Methods Catalytic Cross-Coupling Reactions Organometallic Complex Synthesis and Catalysis

Publication details

Journal / source
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
65
Issue
7
Pages
e23241–e23241
Publication date
5 January 2026
Language
EN