Rhodium-catalyzed addition of arylstannanes to carbon-heteroatom double bond

The addition of arylstannanes to the carbon-heteroatom double bond in the presence of a catalytic amount of a cationic rhodium complex ([Rh(cod)(MeCN)(2)]BF4) was examined. The reactions of aldehydes, alpha-dicarbonyl compounds, and N-substituted aldimines with the arylstannanes gave corresponding alcohols, alpha-hydroxy carbonyl compounds, and amines, respectively. An arylrhodium complex generated by the transmetalation with the arylstannane was probably the active catalytic species. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.