Palladium-Catalyzed Hydrocyanation of Ynoates: En Route to the Stereodivergent Synthesis of β-Cyanated α,β-Unsaturated Esters via Ligand Controlled Regio- and Stereoselectivity.

A Pd-catalyzed highly regio- and stereoselective hydrocyanation was developed, providing a novel approach to the stereodivergent synthesis of β-cyano-substituted acrylates in good yields with a wide substrate scope. The judicious selection of ligands was crucial for elegant control over the stereodivergence. Furthermore, the success of the E-hydrocyanation hinges on the right matching of Pd and L1, which not only ensured the catalytic activity but also prevented the formation of α-cyanation products.