Rhodium Porphyrin Catalyzed Regioselective Hydrogenolysis of 1,2-Diarylcyclopropanes with Water as the Hydrogen Source

The regioselective carbon–carbon bond hydrogenolysis of 1,2-diarylcyclopropanes with water as the hydrogen source in a neutral reaction medium catalyzed by rhodium porphyrin complexes without any sacrificial reductant was successfully achieved. The structures of 1,3-diarylpropane products with complete monodeuterium incorporation at two benzylic positions were confirmed using D2O.