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Updated: Nov 4, 2025

Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
Published on: November 9, 2019
Enantio- and Diastereodivergent Sequential Catalysis Featuring Two Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Reactions
Jeanne Masson-Makdissi1, Liher Prieto1,2, Xavier Abel-Snape1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street., Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada.
Abstract:
This study demonstrates the feasibility and inherent benefits of combining two distinct asymmetric transition-metal-catalyzed reactions in one pot. The reported transformation features a Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation and a Rh-catalyzed enantioselective 1,4-conjugate addition, effectively converting simple allyl enol carbonate precursors into enantioenriched cyclic ketones with two remote stereocenters. Despite the anticipated challenges associated with controlling stereoselectivity in such a complex system, the products are obtained in enantiomeric excesses ranging up to >99 % ee, exceeding those obtained from either of the individual asymmetric reactions. In addition, since the stereoselectivity of both steps is under catalyst control, this one-pot reaction is enantio- and diastereodivergent, enabling facile access to all stereoisomers from the same set of starting materials.
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