Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Arylation of Racemic Ketones to Form Bridged Bicycles via Dynamic Kinetic Resolution

Enantioselective alpha-arylation of racemic ketones containing existing alpha'-stereocenters is reported for the first time via base-induced dynamic kinetic resolution. Bridged bicyclic rings are formed in good ee values, which are difficult to obtain otherwise. Furthermore, reactions in DMSO-d(6) resulted in extensive deuteration of both alpha- and alpha' -positions in the products, thus supporting a pathway involving rapid, reversible deprotonation of ketones under catalytic conditions.