Cationic iridium-catalyzed enantioselective decarboxylative aryl addition of aromatic carboxylic acids to bicyclic alkenes

Decarboxylative functionalization is an environmentally benign approach that enables the formation of new chemical bonds while emitting only CO₂ as a byproduct. Herein, we report an asymmetric aryl addition to bicyclic alkenes involving the decarboxylation of aromatic carboxylic acids. The cationic iridium/S-Me-BIPAM catalyst system is effective in this reaction, enabling the enantioselective construction of chiral aryl-substituted bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane cores (up to 85% yield and up to 99% ee).