Differentiating the Allyl and Propargyl Groups on α‐Quaternary Carboxylic Acids via Chiral Bifunctional Sulfide‐Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution

Abstract

AbstractCatalytic kinetic resolution of racemic organic compounds is a reliable method to enantioselectively prepare important chiral molecules. Substrates for the kinetic resolution, however, generally required significantly different substituents at a chiral center. Catalytic kinetic resolution of racemic molecules possessing two similar substituents at a chiral center has remained a formidable challenge. In this context, we became interested in the catalytic kinetic resolution of racemic compounds bearing both allyl and propargyl groups, which are similar but useful substituents, at a chiral center. Herein, we report a kinetic resolution of α‐allyl‐α‐propargyl carboxylic acids bearing an all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter via chiral bifunctional sulfide‐catalyzed bromolactonization. The synthetic utility of the resultant optically active compounds obtained via kinetic resolution was also demonstrated.magnified image