Catalytic Enantioselective Desymmetrising Functionalization of Radicals

Catalytic enantioselective desymmetrization is a fundamentally challenging and significant strategy for expedient construction of multiple stereocenters, particularly those sterically hindered quaternary ones, both at and off the reaction sites. However, the development of catalytic enantioselective desymmetrising functionalization of radicals has to face the unique challenge: how to maintain competent interactions between the chiral catalyst and remote motifs in substrates off the reaction sites, particularly in the presence of highly reactive radicals. To this end, we have developed highly enantioselective desymmetrising functionalization of reactive alkyl and aminyl radicals, respectively, using our developed copper(I)/chiral phosphate catalyst. In this talk, we will present our efforts in achieving highly diastereoselective and enantioselective alkene functionalization with this strategy.