Rhodium‐Catalyzed Arylative Cyclization for the Enantioselective Synthesis of (Trifluoromethyl)cyclobutanols

Abstract A rhodium‐catalyzed cyclization of 1‐(trifluoromethyl)‐4‐alkyn‐1‐ones with arylboronic acids is described to yield a novel class of small rings: (trifluoromethyl)cyclobutanols bearing an exocyclic double bond. The use of a rhodium/chiral diene complex allowed the reaction to proceed under mild conditions, often with high enantioselectivity. An X‐ray crystal structure was obtained confirming the formation of the four‐membered ring products.