Asymmetric synthesis of optically active 2-vinylpyrrolidines and 2-vinylpiperidines by palladium-catalysed cyclisation of amino allylic carbonates

Optically active 2-vinylpyrrolidines and 2-vinylpiperidines were synthesised from the corresponding amino allylic carbonates via palladium-catalysed cyclisation. The use of chiral ligands gave the corresponding pyrrolidine and piperidine derivatives having er values from low to moderate.