Cobalt-Catalyzed Enantioselective C-H Carbonylation towards Chiral Isoindolinones

Transition metal-catalyzed enantioselective C-H carbonylation with carbon monoxide, an essential and easily available C1 feedstock, remains challenging. Here, we disclosed an unprecedented enantioselective C-H carbonylation catalyzed by inexpensive and readily available cobalt(II) salt. The reactions proceed efficiently through desymmetrization, kinetic resolution, and parallel kinetic resolution, affording a broad range of chiral isoindolinones in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 92 % yield and 99 % ee). The synthetic potential of this method was demonstrated by asymmetric synthesis of biological active compounds, such as (S)-PD172938 and (S)-Pazinaclone. The resulting chiral isoindolinones also serve as chiral ligands in cobalt-catalyzed enantioselective C-H annulation with alkynes to construct phosphorus stereocenter.