Asymmetric [3+2]-cyclization of α-imino amide surrogates to construct 3,4-diaminopyrrolidine-2,5-diones.

Using newly designed α-imino amide surrogates and azlactones as amphiphilic reactants, catalyzed by a chiral bifunctional guanidine, the construction of chiral 3,4-diaminopyrrolidine-2,5-diones and their derivatives was realized formal [3+2]-cyclization. The role of guanidine as a multiple hydrogen bond donor was demonstrated by DFT calculations.