Catalytic Enantioselective Fluorination Reactions of α-Cyano Acetates and α-Cyanophosphonates Using Chiral Palladium Complexes

The catalytic enantioselective electrophilic fluorinations of active methane compounds promoted chiral palladium complexes have been developed. Treatment of α-cyano acetates and α-cyanoalkylphosphonates with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide as the fluorine source under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding α-cyano-α-fluorinated adducts in high yields with excellent enantiomeric excesses (up to 99% ee). These reactions can be conducted in alcoholic solvents without any precaution to exclude water and moisture.