Reaction of arylboron reagents, arylboronic acids or arylborates, which are readily accessible by lithiation of aryl bromides followed by treatment with trimethoxyborane, with α, β-unsaturated esters in the presence of rhodium/(S)-binap catalyst proceeded with high enantioselectivity to give high yields of optically active β-aryl esters of up to 98% ee. The enantioselectivity depends on the steric bulkiness of the ester moiety.
