Synthesis of Chiral Pyridones by Palladium-Catalyzed Rearrangement

Significance

The aza-oxa-Cope rearrangement of allylic imidates (Overman rearrangement) is a useful method for the synthesis of allylic amines. More recently, catalytic enantioselective variants have emerged, providing rapid access to important chiral amines (C. E. Anderson, L. E. Overman J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 12412). The authors demonstrate how this strategy can be extended to the synthesis of chiral N-substituted 2-pyridones and related heterocycles, many of which are known to have interesting biological properties.