Chiral Sulfoxide in Asymmetric Catalysis

Abstract

Enantiopure sulfoxides are recognized as useful and versatile chiral auxiliaries in asymmetric synthesis. In contrast, much less explored is the use of chiral sulfoxide as ligands for late transition metal catalysts which favorably make sulfur coordination. This article provides a brief overview of the development of such ligands bearing chiral sulfoxide moiety. In 2008, Dorta introduced the highly efficient axially chiral bis-sulfoxide ligands (BINASO) for Rh-catalyzed enantioselective 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to α,β-unsaturated ketones. After this seminal report, several novel chiral sulfoxide ligands appeared to work for Pd- or Rh-catalyzed asymmetric transformations.