Enantioselective Rhodium-Catalyzed Alkenylation of Aliphatic Imines.

An efficient, enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed addition of potassium alkenyltrifluoroborates to N-nosyl aliphatic imines has been realized. Good reaction yields and excellent enantioselectivities (94-99% ee) were obtained for a variety of aliphatic imines and nucleophilic alkenyltrifluoroborates. An active rhodium-diene catalyst and the precise reaction condition control proved to be pivotal for success.

Syntheses of thiol and selenol esters by oxidative coupling reaction of aldehydes with RYYR (Y = S, Se) under metal-free conditions.

Thiol and selenol esters were synthesized by a direct oxidative coupling reaction of aldehydes with disulfides or diselenides in ethyl acetate under metal-free conditions. Among the oxidants examined, tert-butyl peroxide (TBP) was shown to give the best results. For the substrates with both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents, the reaction proceeded smoothly and gave moderate to good yields.