title: Rhodium-catalyzed reductive aldol reactions using aldehydes as the stoichiometric reductants.
abstract: Chelated acyl rhodium hydrides, generated from the addition of [Rh(dppe)]ClO4 to beta-sulfide-substituted aldehydes, can function as the stoichiometric reductants in reductive aldol processes. Unsaturated nitriles, esters, and ketones can be used as enolate equivalents, and a variety of simple alpha- and beta-substituted aldehydes can be employed. The use of a second, more electrophilic, aldehyde allows three-component reactions to be performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK. m.c.willis@bath.ac.uk
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Woodward