Highly Stereoselective C-C Bond Formation by Rhodium-Catalyzed Tandem Ylide Formation/[2,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangement between Donor/Acceptor Carbenoids and Chiral Allylic Alcohols

The tandem ylide formation/[2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement between donor/acceptor rhodium carbenoids and chiral allyl alcohols is a convergent C-C bond forming process, which generates two vicinal stereogenic centers. Any of the four possible stereoisomers can be selectively synthesized by appropriate combination of the chiral catalyst Rh-2(DOSP)(4) and the chiral alcohol.