Synthesis of Enantiopure C3 -Symmetric Triangular Molecules.

An asymmetric synthesis of C3 -symmetric triangular macrocycles is reported. 1-Methylsulfonyl-4-(4-vinylphenyl)-1,2,3-triazole undergoes a rhodium(II)-catalyzed cyclotrimerization to establish an enantiopure C3 -symmetric triangular macrocycle motif. This method can be applied to the synthesis of an enantiopure hydrocarbon, which owes its chirality to asymmetric distribution of H/D atoms on the benzene rings.