Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Alkynylation/Aldol Cyclization Cascade for the Formation of α-Propargyl-β-hydroxyketones.

A rhodium-catalyzed conjugate alkynylation/aldol cyclization cascade was developed. Densely functionalized cyclic α-propargyl-β-hydroxyketones were synthesized with simultaneous formation of a C(sp)-C(sp3) bond, a C(sp3)-C(sp3) bond, as well as three new contiguous stereocenters. The transformation was achieved with excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivities using BINAP as the ligand. The synthetic utility of the newly installed alkynyl moiety was exhibited by subjecting the products to an array of derivatizations.