Transition metal-catalyzed addition reactions of arylboronic acids with alkyl 2-formylbenzoates: efficient access to chiral 3-substituted phthalides.

Transition metal-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to 2-formylbenzoates afforded 3-substituted phthalides. By using SPINOL-based phosphites as ligands, a Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric version of such an addition reaction was achieved.