| Abstract: | The enantioselective 1,4‐addition of arylboronic acids to β‐arylenones to give β‐diaryl ketones was carried out at 0–25 °C in the presence of a dicationic palladium(II) catalyst, [Pd(S,S‐chiraphos)(PhCN)2](SbF6)2. Addition of a silver salt such as silver tetrafluoroborate [AgBF4] or silver hexafluoroantimonate [AgSbF6] (5–10 mol %) was effective to achieve high enantioselectivities at low temperatures (92–99 % ee) and to reduce the catalyst loading to 0.05 mol %. The protocol provided a simple access to 4‐aryl‐4H‐chromenes. Optically active chromenes were synthesized with up to 99 % ee via dehydration of the 1,4‐adducts between arylboronic acids and β‐(2‐hydroxyaryl)‐α,β‐unsaturated ketones. |
