title: Hydrogenolysis of unstrained carbon-carbon sigma bonds: stereoselective entry into benzylic tertiary centers.
abstract: The modification of sp(3)-hybridized carbon centers through Pd-catalyzed reductive cleavage of unstrained carbon-carbon sigma bonds is described. From the hydrogenolysis of benzyl Meldrum's acids bearing an all-carbon benzylic quaternary center, Meldrum's acid and aromatics substituted with a tertiary benzylic stereocenter were obtained in good to excellent yields. Mechanistic studies showed that the reductive cleavage of enantioenriched benzylic quaternary centers proceeded with inversion of configuration, supporting a "loose" S(N)2 pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1.
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilsily
authors.forename: Yen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fillion