Z -Retentive Asymmetric Allylic Substitution Reactions of Aldimine Esters under Ru/Cu Dual Catalysis.

Ru/Cu dual catalysis has been applied for Z -retentive asymmetric allylic substitution reactions of aldimine esters. This reaction provides an enantioselective synthesis of chiral Z -olefins in high yields (up to 91% yield) with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee) under mild conditions. The previously unreacted trisubstituted allylic electrophiles under Ir catalytic system are found to be compatible, affording the stereoretentive products in either Z - or E -form. Both linear and branched allylic electrophiles are suitable substrates with excellent reaction outcomes. Notably, Ru and Cu complexes are added in one-pot and simplifies the manipulation of this protocol and self-sorting phenomena could be observed in this Ru/Cu dual catalytic system.