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