Enantioselective and Diastereoselective C–H Alkylation of Benzamides: Synergized Axial and Central Chirality via a Single Stereodetermining Step

In this report, distally disposed axial and central chirality has been installed in a synergistic fashion via rhodium-catalyzed C–H alkylation of benzamides using N-arylmaleimide as the alkylating reagent, in which the enantio- and diastereo-determining steps are merged into a single one. The coupling system features mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, and excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivity. The chiral induction has been enabled by judicious choice of a chiral rhodium cyclopentadienyl catalyst that serves to control both the orientation of the olefin unit and the prochiral C–N bond.