Enantioselective generation of adjacent stereocentres via a copper-catalyzed three component coupling of imines, allenes and diboranes

A highly enantio- and diastereoselective copper-catalyzed three-component coupling affords the first general synthesis of homoallylic amines bearing adjacent stereocenters from achiral starting materials. The method utilizes a commercially available NHC ligand and copper source, operates at ambient temperature, couples readily available simple imines, allenes, and diboranes, and yields high-value homoallylic amines that exhibit versatile amino, alkenyl, and boryl units.