Asymmetric Synthesis of Alkylzincs by Rhodium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Arylative Cyclization of 1,6-Enynes with Arylzincs

A chiral diene-rhodium complex was found to catalyze the reaction of 1,6-enynes with ArZnCl to give high yields of 2-(alkylidene)cyclopentylmethylzincs with high enantioselectivity (95–99 % ee). The enantioenriched alkylzincs were readily converted in a one-pot approach into a wide variety of functionalized products by taking advantage of their unique reactivity. The catalytic cylcle involves arylrhodation of alkyne, intramolecular alkenylrhodation of alkene, and transmetalation of the alkyl-rhodium intermediate into alkylzinc.