endo-5-Norbornene-2,3-dimethanol-promoted asymmetric Heck/Suzuki cascade reaction of N-(2-bromophenyl)acrylamides

Abstract

A highly enantioselective palladium-catalyzed Heck/Suzuki cascade reaction of N-(2-bromophenyl)acrylamides has been developed. The key to the success of this transformation was found to be the endo-5-norbornene-2,3-dimethanol helping prevent transmetalation of the aryl-palladium complex. The reaction was shown to tolerate a wide range of functional groups and provide straightforward access to an array of oxindoles with excellent ee values.