Asymmetric Hydroarylation of Enones via Nickel-Catalyzed 5-Endo-Trig Cyclization

A nickel-catalyzed reductive cyclization of enones affords a wide array of indanones in high enantiomeric induction. The reaction is featured with an unprecedented broad scope of substrates. The versatility of the new method is demonstrated in several short stereoselective syntheses of medically valuable (R)-tolterodine, parent and deuterated (+)-indatraline, and an antitumor natural product, (+)-multisianthol. In comparison, these compounds cannot be prepared satisfactorily via analogous processes catalyzed by palladium.