Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Addition of Arylboronic Acids to β-Phthaliminoacrylate Esters toward the Synthesis of β-Amino Acids

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to beta-phthaliminoacrylate esters took place efficiently to give high yields of beta-aryl-beta-amino acid esters with 96-99% enantioselectivity, which was realized by use of a hydroxorhodium/chiral diene complex.