Urea Insertion Reaction of Rhodium-Carbenoid

Abstract

We developed the first carbenoid insertion reaction into the urea C−N bond. The urea insertion reaction proceeded smoothly using Rh₂(NHPiv)₄, a rhodium catalyst previously designed by our group, to construct a diazabicyclic system. Highly functionalized bridged molecules with three adjacent stereocenters were diastereoselectively synthesized via the urea insertion reaction followed by hydride reduction or nucleophilic addition sequences in one-pot.

Graphical Abstract