Enantioselective addition of allyltin reagents to amino aldehydes catalyzed with bis(oxazolinyl)phenylrhodium(III) aqua complexes

Bis(oxazolinyl)phenylrhodium(III) aqua complexes, (Phebox)RhX₂(H₂O) [X = Cl, Br], were found to be efficient Lewis acid catalysts for the enantioselective addition of allyl- and methallyltributyltin reagents to amino aldehydes. The reactions proceed smoothly in the presence of 5-10 mol % of (Phebox)RhX₂(H₂O) complex at ambient temperature to give the corresponding amino alcohols with modest to good enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee).