Expeditious and novel synthesis of α-hydroxyesters via rhodium–NHC catalyzed arylation of ethyl glyoxalate

CS Marques, AJ Burke

Index: Marques, Carolina S.; Burke, Anthony J. Tetrahedron, 2012 , vol. 68, # 35 p. 7211 - 7216

Full Text: HTML

Citation Number: 6

Abstract

The rhodium–NHC catalyzed arylation reaction of ethyl glyoxalate with aryl and alkyl boronic acids provides an efficient method for the synthesis of α-hydroxyesters. A wide range of α- hydroxyesters (up to 12) were prepared in good to excellent yields. KOtBu was the base of choice, along with tert-amyl alcohol as the solvent. As far as we are aware, this is the first report of this catalytic arylation, using rhodium–NHC catalysts with this specific substrate ...