Exploring Rhodium-Catalysed Conjugate Addition of Chiral Alkenylboronates Using Chiral Olefin Ligands

The rhodium-catalysed addition of chiral alkenylboron reagents to prochiral alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl acceptors are demonstrated to proceed under ligand control. The highest activities were obtained with chiral olefin ligands and the configuration of the new stereocentre can be predicted by using established models.