Asymmetric [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of Chiral N-Phosphonyl Imines with Methyl Isocyanoacetate for Accessing 2-Imidazolines with Switchable Stereoselectivity.

Asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition of chiral N-phosphonyl imines with methyl isocyanoacetate has been established, enabling controllable/switchable stereoselectivity access to 21 examples of cycloadducts with good to excellent chemical yields (up to 92%) and high diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1 dr). The cycloaddition reaction promoted by CsCO resulted in diastereoenriched (4R,5S)-products with >99:1 dr. However, it showed the reverse stereoselectivity as diastereoenriched (4S,5R) products when AgF was employed as the catalyst.

Chiral GAP catalysts of phosphonylated imidazolidinones and their applications in asymmetric Diels-Alder and Friedel-Crafts reactions.

The design and synthesis of recyclable imidazolidinone catalysts using GAP chemistry/technique was described. Their applications in asymmetric Diels-Alder and Friedel-Crafts reactions with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes resulted in excellent yields and higher enantioselectivities than previous processes. As recyclable small molecular catalysts, phosphonylated imidazolidinones can be recovered and reused for up to three runs without costing significant decrease in catalytic activity.