Ternary Aldehyde–Copper–Iridium Catalysis Enables Stereodivergent Allylation via α‐C‐H Functionalization of Primary Amines

Z Zijiao Liu (Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital South Campus Shanghai 201499 China) P Panpan Li (Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Chiral Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Synergistic Chem-Bio Synthesis, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China) H Haoyang Wang J Jiacheng Zhang (State Key Laboratory of Synergistic Chem-Bio Synthesis, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Ageing) X Xiaohong Huo (Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Chiral Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Synergistic Chem-Bio Synthesis, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China) Z Zhen‐Liang Sun (Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital South Campus Shanghai 201499 China) W Wanbin Zhang (Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Chiral Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Synergistic Chem-Bio Synthesis, Zhengzhou Industrial Technology Research Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering)

Abstract

Abstract α‐Chiral primary amines are recognized as one of the most valuable and versatile synthetic intermediates, widely utilized in the construction of diverse amine‐containing natural products, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. The direct asymmetric α‐C‐H functionalization of unprotected primary amines is the most straightforward method for creating these motifs. However, this transformation remains underdeveloped, particularly in stereodivergent synthesis of primary amines with multiple stereocenters. Herein, we report an aldehyde/copper/iridium ternary catalytic system, which was successfully employed for the direct enantio‐ and diastereodivergent α‐allylation of primary α‐amino‐chromanone without requiring additional protection or activation of the NH 2 group. A wide range of α‐tertiary primary amines bearing vicinal stereocenters were prepared in high yields with excellent enantio‐ and diastereoselectivities (generally >20:1 dr and >99% ee). Notably, all four stereoisomers of the α‐tertiary amines can be readily prepared by simply switching the configuration combinations of the two chiral metal catalysts. Furthermore, the asymmetric induction model for the α‐C‐H functionalization of primary amines was meticulously elucidated through comprehensive density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 28
Published July 07, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (7)

Z

Zijiao Liu

Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital South Campus Shanghai 201499 China

P

Panpan Li

Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Chiral Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Synergistic Chem-Bio Synthesis, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China

H

Haoyang Wang

J

Jiacheng Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Synergistic Chem-Bio Synthesis, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Ageing

X

Xiaohong Huo

Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Chiral Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Synergistic Chem-Bio Synthesis, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China

Z

Zhen‐Liang Sun

Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital South Campus Shanghai 201499 China

W

Wanbin Zhang

Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Chiral Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Synergistic Chem-Bio Synthesis, Zhengzhou Industrial Technology Research Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering