Pd-Catalyzed Acyl C-O Bond Activation for Selective Ring-Opening of α-Methylene-β-lactones with Amines.

A Pd-catalyzed ring-opening of β-lactones with various types of amines (primary, secondary, and aryl) to provide β-hydroxy amides with excellent selectivity toward acyl C-O bond cleavage is reported. The utility of this protocol is demonstrated in an asymmetric kinetic resolution providing enantioenriched α-methylene-β-lactones.