Highly Enantioselective Arylation of N,N-Dimethylsulfamoyl-Protected Aldimines Using Simple Sulfur–Olefin Ligands: Access to Solifenacin and (S)-(+)-Cryptostyline II

With the use of a simple sulfur-olefin ligand, a highly enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed addition of arylboroxines to N,N-dimethylsulfamoyl-protected aldimines has been achieved, allowing access to a broad range of chiral diarylmethylamines in high yields (up to 98%) with uniformly excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). This catalyst system is also applicable to the arylation of N-tosyl arylimines. By utilizing this method, some biologically active molecules possessing a chiral 1-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline core such as Solifenacin and (S)-(+)-Cryptostyline II are facilely constructed.