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Synthesis of α,α-diheteroatomic carboxylic acids

Chiral carboxylic acids bearing two distinct heteroatoms at the α-carbon could tune the functions of biomolecules but have remained largely inaccessible. Now, a strategy is developed for the preparation of α,α-diheteroatomic carboxylic acids through enantioselective O–H or N–H insertion into a thia-Rh-carbene species.

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Fig. 1: Synthesis of DHCAs.

References

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This is a summary of: Xing, Y. et al. Harnessing thia-Rh-carbenes for the enantioselective synthesis of chiral α,α-diheteroatomic carboxylic acids. Nat. Catal. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-026-01481-3 (2026).

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Synthesis of α,α-diheteroatomic carboxylic acids. Nat Catal (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-026-01494-y

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