Asymmetric catalytic arylation of ethyl glyoxylate using organoboron reagents and Rh(i)–phosphane and phosphane–phosphite catalysts

What is it about?

This was a new synthetic technique using chiral phosphane ligands to obtain interesting hydroxyester products which are generally biologically active (i.e. used in medicines).

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Why is it important?

It was the first time that very good enentioselectivities were obtained in this reaction, i.e. the reaction was very selective for just one of the enantiomers.