Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloaddition of Unsymmetrical α,ω-Diynes with Acenaphthylene.

It has been established that a cationic rhodium(I)/(R)-BINAP complex catalyzes the asymmetric [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of unsymmetrical α,ω-diynes with acenaphthylene at room temperature to give the corresponding chiral multicyclic compounds with high yields and ee values. Interestingly, enantioselectivity highly depended on the structures of α,ω-diynes used. The structural requirements of α,ω-diynes for high enantioselectivity were opposite to those in our previously reported cationic rhodium(I)/(R)-Difluorphos complex-catalyzed asymmetric [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes with indene.