Ni-Catalyzed Enantioselective Dialkyl Carbinol Synthesis via Decarboxylative Cross Coupling: Development, Scope, and Applications

The first enantioselective decarboxylative Negishi-type alkylations of a-oxy carboxylic acids is reported via the intermediacy of redox-active esters (RAEs). This transformation enables a radical-based retrosynthesis of seemingly trivial enantiopure dialkylcarbinols. This article includes a discussion of the history of such couplings, the retrosynthetic ramifications of such a coupling, the development of general conditions, and an extensive series of applications that vividly demonstrate how it can simplify synthesis.