An Ylide Transformation of Rhodium(I) Carbene: Enantioselective Three-Component Reaction through Trapping of Rhodium(I)-Associated Ammonium Ylides by β-Nitroacrylates.

The chiral Rh^I-diene-catalyzed asymmetric three-component reaction of aryldiazoacetates, aromatic amines, and β-nitroacrylates was achieved to obtain γ-nitro-α-amino-succinates in good yields and with high diastereo- and enantioselectivity. This reaction is proposed to proceed through the enantioselective trapping of Rh^I-associated ammonium ylides by nitroacrylates. This new transformation represents the first example of Rh^I-carbene-induced ylide transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]