Cationic Pd(II)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Cyclization of Aroylmethyl 2-Alkynoates Initiated by Carbopalladation of Alkynes with Arylboronic Acids.

A cationic palladium(II)-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular addition of vinylpalladium species to ketones initiated by the carbopalladation of alkynoates under mild conditions without a Pd(II)/Pd(0) redox system was developed with high yield and enantioselectivity. This cascade reaction provides an efficient method for the construction of optically active hydroxylactones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]