Mechanistic Insight into Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylations

The authors report the first kinetic data on iridium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitutions, giving helpful mechanistic insight into this reaction. Upon mixing aniline with cinnamyl carbonate, complex A was isolated and, thus, believed to lie within the catalytic cycle. The reaction catalyzed by A had the same branched-to-linear ratio and enantioselectivity as that from the traditional combination of [Ir(cod)Cl]2 and phosphor­amidite ligand.