Enantioselective arylative cyclization of allenyl aldehydes with arylboronic acids under Pd(II)-diphosphine catalysis.

A Pd(OAc)2-SEGPHOS combination catalyzes the first enantioselective arylative cyclization of allenyl aldehydes with arylboronic acids to provide cis-fused five- and six-membered cyclic homoallylic alcohols. The excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity and the fact that the reaction proceeds at room temperature in the absence of any additives make the process highly practical.