Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Addition of Arylboronic Acids to Glyoxylates: Access to Optically Active Substituted Mandelic Acid Esters

Abstract

A rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective addition of glyoxylates to arylboronic acids promoted by a simple chiral sulfinamide-based olefin ligand under mild reaction conditions is described. The reaction provides access to a variety of optically active substituted mandelic acid esters in good yields with up to 83% ee. The catalytic system is also applicable to pyruvate addition. The synthetic utility of this method is highlighted by a formal synthesis of the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel.