Enantioselective Addition of Heteroarylboronates to Arylimines Catalyzed by a Rhodium-Diene Complex

An enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed 1,2-addition of heteroarylboronates to aryl N-tosylimines and N-nosylimines has been developed. Our chiral rhodium-diene catalyst showed high efficiency in the stereochemical control of this reaction. Under the optimal reaction conditions, a variety of boronates bearing pyridinyl, furyl or thienyl groups were successfully reacted with aryl imines. The boronate type, with balance of the stability and reactivity, is critical for achieving high reaction yields in this reaction.