Iridium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Asymmetric Allylic Dearomatization Reaction of Benzoxazoles, Benzothiazoles, and Benzimidazoles.

An iridium-catalyzed intramolecular asymmetric allylic dearomatization reaction of benzoxazoles, benzothiazoles, and benzimidazoles was developed. The reaction was found to be compatible with a wide range of five-membered-ring electron-deficient heteroaromatic compounds and furnished the corresponding dearomatized heterocycles in high yield with excellent enantioselectivity.