Rhodium-catalyzed conjugate addition-enantioselective protonation: the synthesis of alpha,alpha'-dibenzyl esters.
Alpha-benzyl acrylates, which are conveniently prepared from the corresponding aldehydes, can be employed as substrates in a tandem rhodium-catalyzed conjugate addition-enantioselective protonation protocol to afford enantiomerically enriched alpha,alpha'-dibenzyl esters. The synergistic effect of enantiopure ligand and proton source was rapidly optimized with use of a microwave reactor.
Frost
Christopher G
CG
Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK. c.g.frost@bath.ac.uk
Penrose
Stephen D
SD
Lambshead
Kim
K
Raithby
Paul R
PR
Warren
John E
JE
Gleave
Robert
R