Kinetic resolution of trifluoromethylated heterobenzhydrols via hydrogen-acceptor-free Ir-catalyzed heteroaryl-selective C–H silylation

Abstract

Kinetic resolution of benzhydrols via intramolecular C–H silylation is an efficient method for the preparation of chiral benzhydrols. However, the previously reported methods required sterically demanding phenyl rings to achieve group-selective C–H silylation. Herein, we report the kinetic resolution of trifluoromethylated heterobenzhydrols, bearing both phenyl and thiophene rings, via heteroaryl-selective C–H silylation. We conducted computational studies on the factors influencing the enantioselectivity and heteroaryl selectivity.