Chiral Nanoparticles/Lewis Acids as Cooperative Catalysts for Asymmetric 1,4-Addition of Arylboronic Acids to α,β-Unsaturated Amides

Chiral Nanoparticles/Lewis Acids as Cooperative Catalysts for Asymmetric 1,4-Addition of Arylboronic Acids to α,β-Unsaturated Amides
Dr. Tomohiro Yasukawa, Yuuki Saito, Dr. Hiroyuki Miyamura and Prof. Dr. Shū Kobayashi
Version of Record online: 19 MAY 2016 | DOI: 10.1002/anie.201601559

It can abide amides: Cooperative catalysts consisting of heterogeneous chiral Rh/Ag nanoparticles and a metal Lewis acid, Sc(OTf)₃ show high catalytic activities and outstanding enantioselectivities for asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions of arylboronic acids with α,β-unsaturated amides. The reaction is regarded as challenging owing to low reactivity of the amide substrates.