Asymmetric Synthesis of Axially Chiral 2-Aminobiaryls by Rhodium-Catalyzed Benzannulation of 1-Arylalkynes with 2-(Cyanomethyl)phenylboronates.

Asymmetric benzannulation of 1-arylalkynes, where the aryl group is an ortho-substituted aromatic group, with 2-(cyanomethyl)phenylboronate was catalyzed by a rhodium complex coordinated with a chiral diene ligand to give high yields of axially chiral 2-aminobiaryls with greater than 90 % ee.