Asymmetric Ring-Opening Reactions of Aza- and Oxa-bicyclic Alkenes with Boronic Acids Using a Palladium/Zinc Co-catalytic System

The asymmetric ring opening reactions of bicyclic alkenes with boronic acids were accomplished by using a highly active palladium/zinc co-catalytic system that was suitable for both azabenzonorbornadienes and oxabenzonorbornadienes, which were transformed to the corresponding chiral hydronaphthalene products in high yields (up to 99%) and high optical purities (up to 98% ee). The reaction protocol is general and mild and displays good functional group tolerance.