Enantioselective Rh-catalyzed domino transformations of alkynylcyclohexadienones with organoboron reagents.

A new enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed domino reaction is described that gives access to fused heterocycles by desymmetrization of alkyne-tethered cyclohexadienones. Two new C-C bonds and two stereocenters are formed in one step with good enantioselectivity. In contrast to prior reports, it was found that a vinylidene is not involved in the product formation but that syn-addition of the rhodium-aryl species onto the alkyne takes place.