Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of indanones: development of a new "axially chiral" bisphosphine ligand

J Am Chem Soc. 2006 Mar 8;128(9):2772-3. doi: 10.1021/ja056584s.

Abstract

A rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric isomerization of racemic alpha-arylpropargyl alcohols to beta-chiral indanones has been developed. High enantioselectivity has been realized by the use of a newly developed axially chiral bisphosphine ligand. This ligand is unique in the sense that its axial chirality is fixed to a single configuration upon complexation to a transition metal due to other chiral axes existing within the same molecule.