Copper(i)-catalyzed asymmetric exo-selective [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with β-trifluoromethyl β,β-disubstituted enones†
Bing Xu,Zhan-Ming Zhang,Bing Liu,Shan Xu,Lu-Jia Zhou,Junliang Zhang
Chemical Communications Pub Date : 06/09/2017 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1039/C7CC03015K
Abstract

The employment of β,β-disubstituted enones as dipolarophiles poses a considerable challenge due to their steric hindrance and low reactivity. A copper-catalyzed asymmetric exo-selective dipolar cycloaddition of β-trifluoromethyl β,β-disubstituted enones with azomethine ylides was developed, which provides an efficient access to valuable pyrrolidines bearing a trifluoromethylated all-carbon quaternary stereocenter. Up to quantitative yields with up to >20 : 1 dr and 99% ee were delivered. A broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, high stereoselectivity, as well as diverse synthetically valuable transformations of the products make this approach highly attractive.

Graphical abstract: Copper(i)-catalyzed asymmetric exo-selective [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with β-trifluoromethyl β,β-disubstituted enones