Enantioselective synthesis of 2-aryl-4-piperidones via rhodium/phosphoramidite-catalyzed conjugate addition of arylboroxines.

[reaction: see text] The highly enantioselective synthesis of 2-aryl-4-piperidones by rhodium/phosphoramidite-catalyzed conjugate addition of arylboroxines to 2,3-dihydro-4-pyridones is described. Both enantiomers of a variety of products with sterically and electronically different R substituents were obtained in high isolated yield and with excellent enantioselectivity up to 99%.