Copper-Catalyzed Intramolecular Desymmetric Aryl C-O Coupling for the Enantioselective Construction of Chiral Dihydrobenzofurans and Dihydrobenzopyrans

Abstract

O-Heterocyclic structures such as 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans are key motifs in many natural compounds and pharmaceuticals. Enantioselective formation of chiral dihydrobenzofurans and analogues was achieved through a copper-catalyzed desymmetrization strategy with a chiral cyclic 1,2-diamine. A broad range of substrates are compatible with this Cu(I)-diamine catalytic system and afford the desired coupling products with chiral tertiary or quaternary carbon centers in high yields and good to excellent enantioselectivities under mild conditions.

Keywords: 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran; O-arylation; asymmetric catalysis; copper; desymmetrization.