Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric addition of arylboronic acids to γ-phthalimido-substituted-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid esters: an approach to γ-amino acids

Efficient Rh-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to ethyl-γ-phthalimidocrotonate by using bis-sulfoxide ligand affords γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) derivatives with high enantioselectivities (90-96% ee) under mild conditions. Optically pure (S)-Baclofen and (S)-Rolipram have been prepared successfully through this synthetic route.