UC Irvine

Under Rh(I) catalysis, α-ketoamides undergo intermolecular hydroacylation with aliphatic aldehydes. A newly designed Josiphos ligand enables access to α-acyloxyamides with high atom-economy and enantioselectivity. On the basis of mechanistic and kinetic studies, we propose a pathway in which rhodium plays a dual role in activating the aldehyde for cross-coupling. A stereochemical model is provided to rationalize the sense of enantioinduction observed.