Rhodium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Intramolecular Hydroamination of Allenes

The rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric intramolecular hydroamination of sulfonyl amides with terminal allenes is reported. It provides selective access to 5‐ and 6‐membered N‐heterocycles, scaffolds found in a large range of different bioactive compounds. Moreover, gram scale reactions, as well as the application of suitable product transformations to natural products and key intermediates thereof are demonstrated.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of β‐Branched Amides

A general asymmetric route for the one‐step synthesis of chiral β‐branched amides is reported through the highly enantioselective isomerization of allylamines, followed by enamine exchange, and subsequent oxidation. The enamine exchange allows for a rapid and modular synthesis of various amides, including challenging β‐diaryl and β‐cyclic.     

Asymmetric Rhodium‐Catalyzed Addition of Thiols to Allenes: Synthesis of Branched Allylic Thioethers and Sulfones

A highly regio‐ and enantioselective hydrothiolation of terminal allenes, a reaction which fulfills the criteria of atom economy, is reported. Applying two chiral rhodium catalyst systems, a wide variety of thiols and allenes could be coupled. Oxidation gave access to the corresponding allylic sulfones in essentially enantiomerically pure form. The reaction tolerates a variety of functional groups and labeling experiments gave first insights into the reaction mechanism of this new methodology.     

Regio‐ and Enantioselective Synthesis of N‐Substituted Pyrazoles by Rhodium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Addition to Allenes

The rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric N‐selective coupling of pyrazole derivatives with terminal allenes gives access to enantioenriched secondary and tertiary allylic pyrazoles, which can be employed for the synthesis of medicinally important targets. The reaction tolerates a large variety of functional groups and labelling experiments gave insights into the reaction mechanism. This new methodology was further applied in a highly efficient synthesis of JAK 1/2 inhibitor (R)‐ruxolitinib.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Allylation of Phenols and 2‐Hydroxypyridines

Inspired by the mechanistic studies of rhodium‐catalyzed atom‐economic addition of carboxylate acids to allenes, a rhodium‐catalyzed dynamic kinetic asymmetric allylation of different nucleophiles with racemic allylic carbonates has been developed. High regio‐ and enantioselectivities can be obtained under neutral conditions and, furthermore, the chemoselectivities can be controlled by different diphosphine ligands. (R,R)‐QuinoxP* leads to selective O‐allylation of phenols, whereas when embedding (S,S)‐DIOP as the ligand, 2‐naphthol is ortho‐C‐allylated for the first time in high enantioselectivity. To this end, hydroxypyridines can be N‐allylated by Rh^I/(S)‐DTBM‐Segphos via the same intermediate as in the previously reported atom‐economic addition to allenes.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Cycloisomerization and Parallel Kinetic Resolution of Racemic Oxabicycles

While desymmetrizations by intermolecular asymmetric ring‐opening reactions of oxabicyclic alkenes with various nucleophiles have been reported over the past two decades, the demonstration of an intramolecular variant is unknown. Reported herein is the first rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric cycloisomerization of meso‐oxabicyclic alkenes tethered to bridgehead nucleophiles, thus providing access to tricyclic scaffolds through a myriad of enantioselective C?O, C?N, and C?C bond formations. Moreover, we also demonstrate a unique parallel kinetic resolution, whereby racemic oxabicycles bearing two different bridgehead nucleophiles can be resolved enantioselectively.     

Exploiting Distal Reactivity of Coumarins: A Rhodium‐Catalyzed Vinylogous Asymmetric Ring‐Opening Reaction

While the utility of vinylogous enolates is well established in the setting of vinylogous aldol, Mannich, and Michael chemistries, literature reports concerning γ‐reactivity are scarce for other reaction classes. Presented herein is an unprecedented example of vinylogous reactivity exemplified by the rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric ring‐opening reaction of oxabicycles. This strategy also provides a powerful route to incorporate the biologically useful coumarin motif into the hydronapthalene scaffold.