Enantioselective Synthesis of 3-Arylindan-1-ones via Intramolecular C-H Insertion Reactions of α-Diazo-β-Ketoesters Catalyzed by Chiral Dirhodium(II) Carboxylates

A new, catalytic enantioselective route to 3-arylindan-1-ones, versatile intermediates for the synthesis of a number of bioactive and pharmaceutically interesting molecules, was developed by exploiting the chiral dirhodium(II) complex-catalyzed intramolecular C-H insertion reaction of α-diazo-β-ketoesters as a key step.Dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N-phthaloyl-(S)-tert-leucinate],Rh 2 (S-PTTL) 4 , proved to be the catalyst of choice for this process, providing