Enantio- and diastereoselective palladium catalysed arylative and vinylative allene carbocyclisation cascades.

The enantioselective synthesis of heavily decorated spirolactams has been accomplished via an arylative or vinylative allene carbocyclisation cascade. Mediated by silver phosphate, a range of allene-linked pro-nucleophiles and aryl or vinyl iodides were reacted in the presence of catalytic Pd(OAc)2 and chiral bis(oxazoline) ligands to afford the spirolactam products in good yields and high enantio- and diastereoselectivities.