Enantioselective Double C−H Activation of Dihydronaphthalenes

Dirhodium tetrakis((S)-N-dodecylbenzenesulfonyl)prolinate) (Rh2(S-DOSP)4) catalyzed reaction of 1,2-dihydronaphthalenes with an excess of methyl vinyldiazoacetates results in a formal double C−H activation, generating four new stereogenic centers with very high stereoselectivity. The mechanism of the C−H activation is complex, involving a combined C−H activation/Cope rearrangement followed by a retro-Cope rearrangement.