Component match in rhodium catalyzed three-component reactions of ethyl diazoacetate, H2O and aryl imines: a highly diastereoselective one-step synthesis of beta-aryl isoserine derivatives

Water and ethyl diazoacetate were found to be matched components for generating highly reactive nucleophilic oxonium ylide in the presence of a dirhodium acetate catalyst. Simultaneous trapping of the oxonium ylide intermediate with aryl imines gave beta-aryl isoserine derivatives with high diastereoselectivity.