Bis(oxazolinyl)phenylrhodium(III) aqua complex: Efficiency in enantioselective addition of methallyltributyltin to aldehydes under aerobic conditions

A simple and general protocol is described for the enantioselective addition of methallyltributyltin to aldehydes catalyzed by chiral (Phebox)RhCl2(H2O) complexes 1 [Phebox = 2,6-bis(oxazolinyl)phenyl]. The reaction can be performed even under aerobic conditions to afford the corresponding optically active homoallylic alcohols in good yields with high enantioselectivities (90-99% ee).