Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Alkynylation

Significance

The asymmetric conjugate addition of alkynes to an α,β-unsaturated system is an atom-economical synthetic approach which allows the formation of a chiral carbon center in the propargylic position. However, the catalytic asymmetric 1,4-alkynylation of enals has been unknown so far. In this paper, the authors report the first example of this transformation via catalysis by a rhodium complex of chiral DTBM-segphos, which proceeds with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities.