title: Asymmetric intramolecular arylcyanation of unactivated olefins via C-CN bond activation.
abstract: The enantioselective, intramolecular arylcyanation of unactivated olefins via C-CN bond activation has been accomplished using a Ni(0) catalyst and BPh3 co-catalyst. High enantioselectivities are achieved using TangPHOS as a chiral ligand. This method allows the generation of two new C-C bonds and one new quaternary carbon stereogenic center in a single synthetic step, converting readily available benzonitrile substrates into 1,1-disubstituted indanes in 49-85% yield and 92-97% ee.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Mary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Eric N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Jacobsen