Enantioselective Intramolecular Hydroacylation of Alkynes by Rhodium Catalysis through Dynamic Kinetic Resolution

Rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective hydroacylation of racemic alkynals having a substituent at the alpha-position of the carbonyl group is described. This reaction can be applied for the wide range of substrates (22 examples), and mechanistic studies revealed that a dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) process occurs during the hydroacylation, giving various cyclic ketones in 47-93% yields with 59:41 to 97:3 er from racemic starting materials.