Enantioselective Copper-Catalyzed Alkylation of Quinoline N-Oxides with Vinylarenes

An asymmetric copper-catalyzed alkylation of quinoline N-oxides with chiral Cu–alkyl species, generated by migratory insertion of a vinylarene into a chiral Cu−H complex, is reported. A variety of quinoline N-oxides and vinylarenes underwent this Cu-catalyzed enantioselective alkylation reaction, affording the corresponding chiral alkylated N-heteroarenes in high yield with high-to-excellent enantioselectivity. This enantioselective protocol represents the first general and practical approach to access a wide range of chiral alkylated quinolines.