Mixed Organobismuth/Dialkylzinc Reagents for Aryl Transfers

Significance

The authors have developed a mixed triarylbismuthane/dialkylzinc system for catalytic aryl transfer to aromatic aldehydes. The organobismuth and dialkylzinc reagents are needed in stoichiometric amounts and the catalytic component is a chiral β-amino alcohol. The reaction is under catalyst control, except in the case of benzaldehyde where the R-configuration is obtained with the S-catalyst. The scope encompasses simple substitutions of the aryl ring of the aldehydes with good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities observed.