Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylation of Carbonyl Compounds with Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

The asymmetric allylation of carbonyl compounds is an important process for the formation of carbon–carbon bonds, generating optically active homoallylic alcohols that are versatile building blocks with widespread applications in organic synthesis. The use of readily available unsaturated hydrocarbons as allylating reagents in the transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric allylation has received increasing interest as either a step- or an atom-economy alternative. This review summarizes transition-metal-catalyzed enantioselective allylations on the basis of the ‘indirect’ and ‘direct’ use of simple unsaturated hydrocarbons (include dienes, allenes, alkynes, and alkenes) as allylating reagents, with emphasis on highlighting conceptually novel reactions. 1 Introduction 2 ‘Indirect’ Use of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons in Asymmetric Allylation of Carbonyl Compounds 2.1 Enantioselective Allylation with 1,3-Dienes 2.2 Enantioselective Allylation with Allenes 2.3 Enantioselective Allylation with Alkenes 3 ‘Direct’ Use of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons in Asymmetric Allylation of Carbonyl Compounds 3.1 Enantioselective Allylation with 1,3-Dienes 3.2 Enantioselective Allylation with Allenes 3.3 Enantioselective Allylation with Alkynes 3.4 Enantioselective Allylation with Alkenes 4 Conclusions