Modular ligands for dirhodium complexes facilitate catalyst customization

Although stereoselectivity is often the focus of ligand optimizations in catalysis, ligand modularity can be used to control many other properties of catalysts. For example, solubility, amenability to purification, and steric shielding of sensitive catalytic intermediates are all important, but seldom appreciated, functions of ligands. We describe a brief and modular approach to various homo- and heteroleptic lantern-type rhodium(II) complexes and perform benchmarking studies with the new catalysts in common rhodium(II)-catalyzed reactions. We demonstrate the power of ligand modularity by creating catalysts customized for aqueous catalysis or for applications in chemical biology.