Ru-Catalyzed Asymmetric Addition of Arylboronic Acids to Aliphatic Aldehydes via <i>P</i>-Chiral Monophosphorous Ligands

Abstract

Chiral alcohols are among the most widely applied in fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Herein, the Ru-monophosphine catalyst formed in situ was found to promote an enantioselective addition of aliphatic aldehydes with arylboronic acids, delivering the chiral alcohols in excellent yields and enantioselectivities and exhibiting a broad scope of aliphatic aldehydes and arylboronic acids. The enantioselectivities are highly dependent on the monophosphorous ligands. The utility of this asymmetric synthetic method was showcased by a large-scale transformation.

Keywords

• Ru-catalyzed
• asymmetric addition
• <i>P</i>-chiral monophosphorous ligands
• chiral alcohols