Synthesis of Chiral CpRh Complexes and Their Application in Enantioselective C–H Functionalization Reactions

In recent years, rhodium catalysis has evolved as a powerful tool for chemo- and stereocontrolled synthesis of chiral molecules via C−H functionalization. In particular, chiral cyclopentadienyl rhodium (CpRh) complex-catalyzed asymmetric C–H functionalization reactions have gained ever-increasing attention in organic synthesis. However, the design and synthesis of novel chiral Cp ligands remain challenging due to the difficulty on imparting chiral elements into the Cp moiety. In this account, we will introduce our research progress on the syntheses of chiral cyclopentadienyl ligands (SCp, Cpm, BOCp, and BCSCp) and their applications in rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric C–H functionalization reactions.