Diastereoselective carbometalation of oxa- and azabicyclic alkenes under iron catalysis.

In the presence of catalytic amounts of FeCl3 and diphosphine ligand PDP, oxa- or aza-bridged dihydronaphthalenes, oxabicycle (XIV) or trioxasilatricycle (XVI) are metalated by diarylzinc compounds, which are prepared from ZnCl2 and arylmagnesium bromides prior the reaction.