A novel catalytic asymmetric route towards skipped dienes with a methyl-substituted central stereogenic carbon.

A highly efficient method for the enantioselective synthesis of 1,4-dienes (skipped dienes) with a methyl-substituted central stereogenic carbon using copper-catalysed asymmetric allylic alkylation of diene bromides was developed. Excellent regio- and enantioselectivity (up to 97 : 3 SN2'/SN2 ratio and 99% ee) were achieved with broad substrate scope.