Rhodium-Catalyzed Reactions of Dithiols and 1,4-Bis(bromomethyl)benzenes Leading To Enantioenriched Dithiaparacyclophanes

We have achieved the first catalytic enantioselective synthesis of planar-chiral dithiaparacyclophanes by means of cationic rhodium(I)/(S)-BINAPHANE complex-catalyzed reactions of dithiols and 1,4-bis(bromomethyl)benzenes. The present method represents the first example of
asymmetric synthesis of planar-chiral cyclophanes through catalytic enantioselective construction of the ansa chains.