A new cine-substitution of alkenyl sulfones with aryltitanium reagents catalyzed by rhodium: mechanistic studies and catalytic asymmetric synthesis of allylarenes

The reaction of alkenyl sulfones with aryltitanium triisopropoxide (ArTi(OPr-i )3) in the presence of 3 mol % of [Rh(OH)((S)-binap)]2 in THF at 40 degrees C gave high yield of cine-substitution products. The catalytic cycle was established by deuterium-labeling studies, and it was applied to catalytic asymmetric synthesis of allylarenes which proceeds with over 99% enantioselectivity.