Enantioselective Access to β-Amino Carbonyls via Ni-Catalyzed Formal Olefin Hydroamidation

We herein describe a Ni-catalyzed formal hydroamidation of readily available α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to afford valuable chiral β-amino acid derivatives (up to >99:1 e.r.) using dioxazolones as a robust amino source. A wide range of alkyl-substituted olefins conjugated to esters, amides, thioesters, and ketones were successfully amidated at the β-position with excellent enantioselectivity for the first time. Combined experimental and computational mechanistic studies supported our working hypothesis that this unconventional β-amidation of unsaturated carbonyl substrates can be attributed to the polar-matched migratory olefin insertion of an (amido)(Cl)Ni^II intermediate, in situ generated from the dioxazolone precursor.