Allylic Alkylations with Enamine Nucleophiles

Abstract

Allylic alkylation reactions are some of the most important carbon-carbon bond forming reactions in organic synthesis. In particular, the alkylation of carbonyl substrates provides an efficient pathway to structurally diverse molecules. Such reactions predominantly rely on the in situ generation of a nucleophilic enamine intermediate. This brief personal account describes research carried out in our group concerning the Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of carbonyl compounds using these species. Our methodology combines Pd-catalysis with metallocene ligands to carry out these transformations.

Keywords: allylic alkylation; carbonyl compounds; enamines; metallocene ligands; palladium.