Cobalt-Catalyzed Desymmetric Isomerization of Exocyclic Olefins

Chiral cyclic olefins, 1-methylcyclohexenes, are versatile building blocks for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and natural products. Despite the prevalence of these structural motifs, the development of efficient synthetic methods remains an unmet challenge. Herein we report a novel desymmetric isomerization of exocyclic olefins using a series of newly designed chiral cobalt catalysts, which enables a straightforward construction of chiral 1-methylcyclohexenes with diversified functionalities. The synthetic utility of this methodology is highlighted by a concise and enantioselective synthesis of a natural product, β-bisabolene. The versatility of the reaction products is further demonstrated by multifarious derivatizations.