Enantioselective organocatalytic iodination-initiated Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement.

The present manuscript describes a high-yielding enantioselective semipinacol transposition, initiated by an electrophilic iodination event. The title transformation makes use of the anionic phase-transfer catalysis (PTC) paradigm for chirality induction. Thus, when combined appropriately, the insoluble cationic iodinating reagent S9 and the lipophilic phosphoric acid L9 act as an efficient source of chiral iodine that performs the semipinacol transposition of strained allylic alcohols A(x) to β-iodo spiroketones B(x) in good yields and with high levels of diastereo- and enantio-induction. The product β-iodo spiroketones could be derivatized stereospecifically and without stereoerosion, giving rise to products inaccessible directly from a semipinacol rearrangement.