Enantiomerically pure rhodium complexes bearing 1,5-diphenyl-1,5-cyclooctadiene as a chiral diene ligand. Their use as catalysts for asymmetric 1,4-addition of phenylzinc chloride

reaction and structures: see text] A rhodium complex coordinated with 1,5-diphenyl-1,5-cyclooctadiene (Ph-cod), RhCl((R)-Ph-cod)]2, was obtained enantiomerically pure through optical resolution of diastereomeric isomers Rh(Ph-cod)((R)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diamine)]BF4. The enantiomerically pure rhodium complexes showed high catalytic activity and enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee) in the asymmetric 1,4-addition of phenylzinc chloride to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and esters in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane.