Copper-Catalyzed Intramolecular Desymmetric Aryl CO Coupling for the Enantioselective Construction of Chiral Dihydrobenzofurans and Dihydrobenzopyrans.

O-Heterocyclic structures such as 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans are key motifs in many natural compounds and pharmaceuticals. Enantioselective formation of chiral dihydrobenzofurans and analogues was achieved through a copper-catalyzed desymmetrization strategy with a chiral cyclic 1,2-diamine. A broad range of substrates are compatible with this Cu^I-diamine catalytic system and afford the desired coupling products with chiral tertiary or quaternary carbon centers in high yields and good to excellent enantioselectivities under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]