Expanding the C ₁-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 Rh ^I-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 Rh ^I/1g complex, the products of conjugate addition were isolated in 89 to 98%ee and in good to excellent yield.