Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylations with Toluene Derivatives as Pronucleophiles.

The first two highly enantioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylations with benzylic nucleophiles, activated with Cr(CO)3 , have been developed. These methods enable the enantioselective synthesis of α-2-propenyl benzyl motifs, which are important scaffolds in natural products and pharmaceuticals. A variety of cyclic and acyclic allylic carbonates are competent electrophilic partners furnishing the products in excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee and 92 % yield). This approach was employed to prepare a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug analogue.