imidazoles and 2-acylpyridines with 1, 2-dicarbonyl compounds (typically α-ketoesters)
catalyzed by a tailored stereogenic-at-rhodium Lewis acid catalyst. The C–C bond formation
products are obtained in high yields (up to 99%) and with excellent stereoselectivities (up
to> 20: 1 dr and up to> 99% ee). Experimental and computational studies support a
mechanism in which a photoactivated Rh-enolate transfers a single electron to the 1, 2 …