Rh(I)/NHC*-Catalyzed Site- and Enantioselective Functionalization of C(sp³)–H Bonds Toward Chiral Triarylmethanes

The first Rh­(I)-catalyzed asymmetric approach for the intermolecular functionalization of C­(sp3)–H bonds is reported. For the first time, unsymmetrical N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) were used for asymmetric catalysis that is capable of achieving not only high site-selectivity but also enantioselectivity. The Rh­(I)/NHC* catalytic systems were applied to asymmetric direct C­(sp3)–H arylation, which provides a synthetic route toward enantioenriched triarylmethanes.