Asymmetric Reductive Dicarbofunctionalization of Alkenes via Nickel Catalysis

Alkenes are an appealing functional group that can be transformed into a variety of structures. Transition-metal catalyzed dicarbofunctionalization of alkenes can efficiently afford products with complex substitution patterns from simple substrates. Under reductive conditions, this transformation can be achieved while avoiding stoichiometric organometallic reagents. Asymmetric difunctionalization of alkenes has been underdeveloped, in spite of its potential synthetic utility. Herein, we present a summary of our efforts to control enantioselectivity for alkene diarylation with a nickel catalyst. This reaction is useful for preparing triarylethanes. The selectivity is enhanced by an N-oxyl radical additive.