Rhodium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of Planar‐Chiral Macrocycles via De Novo Isoquinoline Formation

B Bo‐Bo Gou (New Cornerstone Science Laboratory State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai China) W Wen‐Jie Shen (New Cornerstone Science Laboratory State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai China) Q Qing Gu (New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Lu, Shanghai 200032, China) Y Yuan‐Jun Gao (New Cornerstone Science Laboratory State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai China) S Shu‐Li You (New Cornerstone Science Laboratory State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai China)

Abstract

ABSTRACT De novo formation of the aromatic ring is an attractive strategy for atroposelective synthesis, but its application to planar‐chiral macrocycles remains challenging. Herein, we report a rhodium‐catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of planar‐chiral macrocycles via de novo isoquinoline construction. This method is characterized by high levels of enantioselectivity (up to 96% ee), regioselectivity (up to >20:1 rr), and functional group tolerance, providing a series of isoquinoline‐based macrocyclic atropisomers. Furthermore, the synthetic utility of this protocol is validated via a mmol‐scale reaction and post‐modification process of the product. Mechanistic studies, including deuterium labeling, kinetic isotope effect, and DFT calculations, support C─H bond cleavage as the rate‐determining step and elucidate the origin of the stereoselectivity.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 10
Published March 02, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (5)

B

Bo‐Bo Gou

New Cornerstone Science Laboratory State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai China

W

Wen‐Jie Shen

New Cornerstone Science Laboratory State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai China

Q

Qing Gu

New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Lu, Shanghai 200032, China

Y

Yuan‐Jun Gao

New Cornerstone Science Laboratory State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai China

S

Shu‐Li You

New Cornerstone Science Laboratory State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai China