Enantioselective synthesis of chiral seven-membered rings via Rh-catalyzed 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to enones†

A rhodium-catalyzed reaction between enones and arylboronic acids has been developed to construct chiral seven-membered rings through enantioselective 1,4-addition. This reaction offers outstanding functional group compatibility and excellent regio- and enantioselectivities using easily accessible arylboronic acids. Furthermore, to confirm the practicality of the reaction and understand its mechanism, we conducted in-depth studies on both product transformations and reaction pathways. This method demonstrates numerous advantages, including mild reaction conditions, readily available catalysts and ligands, a broad range of substrates, and the potential for synthesizing scaffolds similar to natural products.