Enantioselective fluorination of tert-butoxycarbonyl lactones and lactams catalyzed by chiral Pd(II)-bisphosphine complexes.

An efficient catalytic enantioselective fluorination of tert-butoxycarbonyl lactones and lactams is reported. Reactions of the lactone substrates proceeded smoothly in an alcoholic solvent with a catalytic amount of chiral Pd(II) complex. In the case of the less acidic lactam substrates, concurrent use of the Pd complex and 2,6-lutidine as a cocatalyst was effective. Under the reaction conditions, the fluorinated lactones and lactams were obtained in good yield with excellent enantioselectivity (94-99% ee).