Expanding the C1-Symmetric Bicyclo[2.2.1]heptadiene Ligand Family: Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Cyclic β-Aryl-Substituted Carbonyl Compounds

The efficient preparation of highly enantioenriched cyclic β-aryl-substituted carbonyl compounds has been achieved through the RhI-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of an array of arylboronic acids to cyclic α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. In the presence of 0.1 or 0.5 mol-% of the RhI/1g complex, the products of conjugate addition were isolated in 89 to 98 % ee and in good to excellent yield.