Catalytic asymmetric arylative cyclization of alkynals: phosphine-free rhodium/diene complexes as efficient catalysts.

Catalytic arylative cyclization of alkynals has been developed by the use of phosphine-free rhodium/diene complexes as catalysts. An asymmetric variant of this process has been successfully realized by employing a C2-symmetric chiral bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene ligand. The rhodium/diene catalyst system is also effective for arylative cyclization of other substrates such as alkynones and enynes, achieving multiple carbon-carbon bond formations in a single step.