Photoinduced Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Allylic C(sp)-H Oxidation of Acyclic 1-Aryl-2-alkyl Alkenes as Limiting Substrates.

Herein, we disclose a simple copper-catalyzed method for enantioselective allylic C(sp)-H oxidation of unsymmetrical acyclic alkenes, specifically 1-aryl-2-alkyl alkenes. The C-H substrates are used in limiting amounts, and the products are obtained with high enantioselectivity, E/Z-selectivity, and regioselectivity. The method exhibits broad functional group tolerance, and E/Z-alkene mixtures are suitable C-H substrates. The transformation is enabled by light irradiation, which sustains the enantioselective copper catalysis by photoinduced oxidant homolysis.