Diesel, JohannesCramer, Nicolai2020-05-172020-05-172020-05-172020-04-0110.2533/chimia.2020.278https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/168786WOS:000529795200013N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are the ligands of choice in a large variety of transformations entailing different transition metals. However, the number and variety of chiral NHCs suitable as stereo-controlling ligands in asymmetric catalysis remains limited. Herein we highlight the introduction of a modular NHC ligand family, consisting of a chiral version of the widely used IPr ligand. These chiral NHC ligands were applied in the nickel-catalyzed enantioselective C-H functionalization of N-heterocycles. Nickel-NHC catalysis unlocked the stereoselective C-H annulation of 2- and 4-pyridones, delivering fused bicyclic compounds found in many biologically active compounds. Applying a bulky, yet flexible ligand scaffold enabled the highly enantioselective C-H functionalization of pyridones under mild conditions. The introduction of a bulky chiral SIPr analogue enabled the nickel-catalyzed enantioselective C-H functionalization of indoles, yielding valuable tetrahydropyridoindoles. Additionally, pyrrolopyridines, pyrrolopyrimidines and pyrroles were efficiently functionalized, delivering chiral annulated azoles.Chemistry, MultidisciplinaryChemistryasymmetric catalysiscarbenesc-h functionalizationnhcnickelarylalkylationefficientcomplexesalkynesaccesspotenttext::journal::journal article::research article