We are excited to share a project many years in the making. For the first time, we have succeeded in using chiral transient directing groups to enhance reactivity, control regioselectivity, and achieve stereoinduction in an intermolecular reductive Heck hydroarylation of alkenes. This transient directing group strategy obviates the directing group installation and removal steps that are common in directed alkene functionalization, representing a positive step forward in efficiency and sustainability. Congrats to all of the Engle lab authors, Luke, Zi-Qi, Van, and Ruohan, as well as our collaborators Tuğçe and Peng from the Liu lab. For a link to the pre-print, click below:
Molecular Complexity through Catalysis 