In the 1,4-addition of phenylboronic acid to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, [Rh(OH)(cod)]2 has a much higher catalytic activity than [Rh(OH)(binap)]2 (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, binap = 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)-1,1'-binaphthyl). Kinetic studies revealed that the rate-determining transmetalation step in the catalytic cycle has a large rate constant when [Rh(OH)(cod)]2 is used.

A rhodium complex coordinated with a chiral diene, (R,R)-2,5-diphenylbicyclo[2.2.2]octa-2,5-diene (Ph-bod), catalyzed the asymmetric addition of dimethylzinc to N-tosylarylimines to give high yields of chiral 1-aryl-1-ethylamines with high enantioselectivity (94-98% ee).

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydroarylation of diphenylphosphinylallenes with arylboronic acids proceeded in high yields with high regio- and enantioselectivity to give chiral allylphosphine oxides of up to 98% ee. The structural determination of the key intermediate, a pi-allylrhodium complex, was successful to establish the catalytic cycle of the reaction.

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Iridium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,6-addition of arylboroxines to alpha,beta,gamma,delta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to give delta-arylated carbonyl compounds in high yields with 90-99% enantioselectivity was realized by use of an iridium/chiral diene complex.