Ligand-enabled multiple absolute stereocontrol in metal-catalysed cycloaddition for construction of contiguous all-carbon quaternary stereocentres

A palladium-catalysed, highly enantio- and diastereoselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction to produce densely functionalized pyrrolidine frameworks is developed by exploiting a new phosphine ligand with a chiral ammonium salt component. Rigorous control of the individual absolute stereochemistry of three contiguous stereocentres, including vicinal all-carbon quaternary stereocentres, is possible using this methodology.