N-(2-pyridylmethyl)imines as azomethine precursors in catalytic asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloadditions

Org Lett. 2010 Dec 17;12(24):5608-11. doi: 10.1021/ol102605q. Epub 2010 Nov 15.

Abstract

An efficient Cu(I)-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition of N-(2-pyridylmethyl) imines has been developed. In the presence of a Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)PF(6)/bisoxazoline catalyst system, high levels of enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee) and moderate to high exo selectivity were achieved with a wide variety of substituted dipolarophiles, including maleimides, fumarates, fumarodinitrile, enones, and nitroalkenes. The reaction with unsymmetrically substituted dipolarophiles is completely regioselective.