title: Rhodium-catalyzed arylative cyclization for the enantioselective synthesis of (trifluoromethyl)cyclobutanols.
abstract: A rhodium-catalyzed cyclization of 1-(trifluoromethyl)-4-alkyn-1-ones with arylboronic acids is described to yield a novel class of small rings: (trifluoromethyl)cyclobutanols bearing an exocyclic double bond. The use of a rhodium/chiral diene complex allowed the reaction to proceed under mild conditions, often with high enantioselectivity. An X-ray crystal structure was obtained confirming the formation of the four-membered ring products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H6 (Canada).
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Ken-Loon
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lautens
keywords: asymmetric catalysis; cyclobutanes; diene ligands; fluorine; rhodium