Organocatalytic enantioselective (3+2) cycloaddition using stable azomethine ylides

Chem Commun (Camb). 2011 Dec 7;47(45):12313-5. doi: 10.1039/c1cc15671c. Epub 2011 Oct 19.

Abstract

We have developed a highly efficient procedure for carrying out the catalytic enantioselective (3+2) cycloaddition between enals and stable azomethine ylides such as isoquinolinium and phthalizinium methylides. Under the optimized reaction conditions highly substituted chiral pyrroloisoquinolines and pyrrolophthalazines have been obtained in high yields and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.