C‐Propargylation Overrides O‐Propargylation in Reactions of Propargyl Chloride with Primary Alcohols: Rhodium‐Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation

The canonical S_N2 behavior displayed by alcohols and activated alkyl halides in basic media (O‐alkylation) is superseded by a pathway leading to carbinol C‐alkylation under the conditions of rhodium‐catalyzed transfer hydrogenation. Racemic and asymmetric propargylations are described.     

Ligand‐Controlled Regiodivergent Enantioselective Rhodium‐Catalyzed Alkene Hydroboration

Regiocontrol in the rhodium‐catalyzed boration of vinyl arenes is typically dominated by the presence of the conjugated aryl substituent. However, small differences in TADDOL‐derived chiral monophosphite ligands can override this effect and direct rhodium‐catalyzed hydroboration of β‐aryl and β‐heteroaryl methylidenes by pinacolborane to selectively produce either chiral primary or tertiary borated products. The regiodivergent behavior is coupled with enantiodivergent addition of the borane. The nature of the TADDOL backbone substituents and that of the phosphite moiety function synergistically to direct the sense and extent of regioselectivity and enantioinduction. Twenty substrates are shown to undergo each reaction mode with regioselectivity values reaching greater than 20:1 and enantiomer ratios reaching up to 98:2. A variety of subsequent transformations illustrate the potential utility of each product.     

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.