Desymmetrization of meso-bisphosphates using copper catalysis and alkylzirconocene nucleophiles

Abstract

Copper-catalyzed allylic desymmetrizations are, so far, limited to carbocyclic products with two tertiary stereocenters. Here, the authors report a highly enantioselective Cu-catalyzed desymmetrization of meso carbo- and hetero-cyclic bisphosphates to give products with up to three contiguous stereocenters.