Rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective alkynylative cyclization of allenyl aldehydes with terminal alkynes

Asymmetric addition of terminal alkynes to allenyl aldehydes took place in the presence of an acetylacetonate complex [Rh(acac)L*] (L* = binap or segphos) as a catalyst to give indanol derivatives in high yields with high regio- and enantioselectivity. The acetylacetonate (acac) ligand on the rhodium is important for the selective formation of the indanol derivatives. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.