Aqueous Asymmetric 1,4-Addition of Arylboronic Acids to Enones Catalyzed by an Amphiphilic Resin-Supported Chiral Diene Rhodium Complex under Batch and Continuous-Flow Conditions

A rhodium chiral diene complex immobilized on amphiphilic polystyrene poly(ethylene glycol) (PS PEG) resin (PS PEG diene*-Rh) has been developed. The immobilized rhodium-chiral diene complex (PS-PEG-diene*-Rh) efficiently catalyzed the asymmetric 1,4-addition of various arylboronic acids to cyclic or linear enones in water under batch conditions to give the corresponding beta-arylated carbonyl compounds in excellent yields and with excellent enantioselectivity. The catalyst was readily recovered by simple filtration and reused 10 times without loss of its catalytic activity and enantioselectivity. Moreover, a continuous-flow asymmetric 1,4-addition in a flow reactor containing PS PEG diene*-Rh proceeded efficiently at 50 degrees C with retention of high enantioselectivity. Long-term continuous-flow asymmetric 1,4-addition during 12 h readily gave the desired product on a 10 g scale with high enantioselectivity.