Rh(I)-Catalyzed Asymmetric 1,2-Addition to α-Diketones with Chiral Sulfur-Alkene Hybrid Ligands

This paper describes a Rh(I)-catalyzed highly efficient and enantioselective 1,2-addition of arylboronic acids to alpha-diketones with the use of a simple sulfur-alkene hybrid ligand. With as low as a 0.1 mol % catalyst loading, a variety of optically active alpha-hydroxyketones can be furnished in high yields with excellent ee's.