Rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-addition of lithium 2-furyltriolborates to unsaturated ketones and esters for enantioselective synthesis of γ-oxo-carboxylic acids by oxidation of the furyl ring with ozone.

Rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-addition of lithium 5-methyl-2-furyltriolborate ([ArB(OCH(2))(3)CCH(3)]Li, Ar = 5-methyl-2-furyl) to unsaturated ketones to give β-furyl ketones was followed by ozonolysis of the furyl ring for enantioselective synthesis of γ-oxo-carboxylic acids. [Rh(nbd)(2)]BF(4) (nbd = 2,5-norbornadiene) chelated with 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl (binap) or 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (chiraphos) gave high yields and high selectivities in a range of 91-99% ee at 30 °C in a basic dioxane/water solution. The corresponding reaction of unsaturated esters, such as methyl crotonate, had strong resistance under analogous conditions, but the 1,4-adduct was obtained in 70% yield and with 94% ee when more electron-deficient phenyl crotonate was used as the substrate.