Pd-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to 2-nitroacrylates: a facile route to β 2 -homophenylglycines

Asymmetric conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to 2-nitroacrylamide in the presence of cationic palladium–Chiraphos complex proceeds with high yield and enantioselectivity (73–89% ee) using as low as 0.05–0.25mol% of the catalyst. The adducts can be smoothly transformed into the corresponding β2-homophenylglycines in two simple steps.