Catalytic conjunctive cross-coupling enabled by metal-induced metallate rearrangement

Transition metal catalysis plays a central role in contemporary organic synthesis. Considering the tremendously broad array of transition metal–catalyzed transformations, it is remarkable that the underlying elementary reaction steps are relatively few in number. Here, we describe an alternative to the organometallic transmetallation step that is common in many metal-catalyzed reactions, such as Suzuki-Miyaura coupling. Specifically, we demonstrate that vinyl boronic ester ate complexes, prepared by combining organoboronates and organolithium reagents, engage in palladium-induced metallate rearrangement wherein 1,2-migration of an alkyl or aryl group from boron to the vinyl α-carbon occurs concomitantly with C–Pd σ-bond formation. This elementary reaction enables a powerful cross-coupling reaction in which a chiral Pd catalyst merges three simple starting materials–an organolithium, an organoboronic ester, and an organotriflate—into chiral organoboronic esters with high enantioselectivity.