Chiral-at-Metal Rh(III) Complex Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Addition of Unactivated Alkenes with α,β-Unsaturated 2-Acyl Imidazoles.

A newly prepared chiral-at-metal Rh(III) complex catalyzed highly efficient asymmetric conjugate addition of para-vinylanilines with α,β-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles is developed, affording the corresponding adducts in 67-95% yields with 86-95% ee. Remarkably, employing as low as 0.05 mol % of Rh(III) complex as catalyst, a gram-scale reaction still affords the desired product in 81% yield with 92% ee.