Enantioselective Direct Alkynylation of Ketones Catalyzed by Chiral CCN Pincer RhIII Complexes.

A direct asymmetric alkynylation of ketones with new chiral CCN Rh catalysts containing N-heterocyclic carbene and oxazoline hybrid ligands is described. The catalytic reaction of fluoroalkyl-substituted ketones, ArCOCF₂X (X=F, Cl, H), with aromatic and aliphatic alkynes yielded the corresponding chiral propargyl alcohols with high enantioselectivity. Control and kinetic experiments suggested a bis(alkynyl) Rh intermediate as the active species for the C−C bond-forming step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]