Asymmetric Synthesis of Neolignans (-)-epi-Conocarpan and (+)-Conocarpan via Rh(II)-Catalyzed C-H Insertion Process and Revision of the Absolute Configuration of (-)-epi-Conocarpan

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of neolignan natural products (-)-epi-conocarpan and (+)-conocarpan has been achieved by exploiting an enantio- and diastereoselective intramolecular C-H insertion reaction to construct a cis-2-aryl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran ring system as a key step. The C-H insertion reaction of 5-bromoaryldiazoacetate catalyzed by Rh-2(S-PTTEA)(4), a new dirhodium(II) carboxylate complex that incorporates N-phthaloyl-(S)-triethylalaninate as chiral bridging ligands, provided 2-aryl-5-bromo-3-methoxycarbonyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran with exceptionally high diastereoselectivity (cis/trans = 97:3) and high enantioselectivity for the cis isomer (84% ee).