Asymmetric Rhodium-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution Reactions with Nitrile-Stabilized Carbanions

Abstract This Account summarizes our recent work on rhodium-catalyzed allylic alkylation reactions with nitrile-stabilized carbanions. Despite the challenges associated with employing nitrile-stabilized nucleophiles in transition-metal-catalyzed reactions, we have developed enantiospecific and enantioselective allylic alkylation reactions. Notably, these novel reactions permit expedient and selective access to an array of acyclic ternary and quaternary stereogenic centers present in important biologically active and functional molecules. 1 Introduction 2 Enantiospecific Allylic Alkylation Reactions with Nitrile-Stabilized Anions 3 Enantioselective Allylic Alkylation Reactions with Nitrile-Stabilized Anions 4 Conclusion