Alternatives to Organoboron Reagents in Rhodium-Catalyzed Conjugate Additions

The rhodium-catalyzed conjugate addition of organoboron reagents to alkene acceptors has emerged as ail important methodology in organic synthesis. The process results in the formation of new carbon-carbon bonds, and in principle, can create new stereocenters at both the cc and P carbon atoms of the acceptor. Other organometallics are known to participate in the key transmetalation to rhodium and are becoming more established in stereo-selective synthesis (notably arylzinc reagents). This Focus Review will describe recent developments in the use of alternative organometallic donors to organoboron reagents in rhodium-catalyzed conjugate addition reactions and their growing applications in synthesis.