Cage‐Shaped Phosphites Having C3‐Symmetric Chiral Environment: Steric Control of Lewis Basicity and Application as Chiral Ligands in Rhodium‐Catalyzed Conjugate Additions

Abstract

AbstractDesigning chiral ligands with an axial symmetry higher than C2‐rotational symmetry is one of the most crucial approaches to improving enantioselectivity in asymmetric synthesis. Herein, C3‐symmetric chiral cage‐shaped phosphites are reported. Their Lewis basicity and chiral environment are precisely controlled by the tethered group. The cage‐shaped phosphites successfully worked as chiral ligands in Rh‐catalyzed asymmetric conjugate additions, realizing acceptable yields with excellent enantioselectivity, and were used to synthesize a pharmacologically important molecule.