C–H functionalization represents a promising approach for the synthesis of complex molecules. Instead of relying on modifying the functional groups present in a molecule, the synthetic sequence is achieved by carrying out selective reactions on the C–H bonds, which traditionally would have been considered to be the unreactive components of a molecule. A major challenge is to design catalysts to control both the site- and stereoselectivity of the C–H functionalization. We have been developing dirhodium catalysts with different selectivity profiles in C–H functionalization reactions with donor/acceptor carbenes as reactive intermediates. Here we describe a new dirhodium catalyst capable of the functionalization of non-activated primary C–H bonds with high levels of site selectivity and enantioselectivity.

C-H 官能化代表了一种有前途的复杂分子合成方法。合成序列不是依赖于修饰分子中存在的官能团，而是通过对 C-H 键进行选择性反应来实现，传统上 C-H 键被认为是分子的非反应性组分。一个主要挑战是设计催化剂来控制 C-H 官能化的位点选择性和立体选择性。我们一直在开发以供体/受体卡宾作为反应中间体的 C-H 官能化反应中具有不同选择性的二铑催化剂。在这里，我们描述了一种新型二铑催化剂，能够以高水平的位点选择性和对映选择性对未活化的伯 C-H 键进行官能化。