General Synthesis of Chiral α,α-Diaryl Carboxamides by Enantioselective Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling

A general synthesis of chiral α,α-diaryl carboxamides is developed by enantioselective cross-coupling between 2-bromo-2-aryl carboxamides and arylboronic acids, leading to a series of chiral α,α-diaryl carboxamides with various electronic properties and functionalities in moderate to excellent enantioselectivities and yields. The employment of a sterically bulky chiral P,P═O ligand L2 is critical for the reactivity and selectivity. This protocol is applied to an efficient asymmetric synthesis of a key intermediate of dopamine receptor agonist SKF 38393.