A New cine-Substitution of Alkenyl Sulfones with Aryltitanium Reagents Catalyzed by Rhodium: Mechanistic Studies and Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Allylarenes

Abstract

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.