Catalytic Asymmetric Functionalization of Aromatic CH Bonds by Electrophilic Trapping of Metal‐Carbene‐Induced Zwitterionic Intermediates

Asymmetric functionalization of aromatic CH bonds of N,N‐disubstituted anilines with diazo compounds and imines is reported for the efficient construction of α,α‐diaryl benzylic quaternary stereocenters in good yields with high diastereoselectivities and excellent enantioselectivities. This Rh II /chiral phosphoric acid cocatalyzed transformation is proposed to proceed through a metal‐carbene‐induced zwitterionic intermediate which undergoes electrophilic trapping. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first asymmetric example of metal carbene‐induced intermolecular functionalization of aryl CH bonds.