Asymmetric inverse-electron-demand hetero-Diels-Alder reaction for the construction of bicyclic skeletons with multiple stereocenters by using a bifunctional organocatalytic strategy: an efficient approach to chiral macrolides.

We have performed the first bifunctional organocatalytic highly enantioselective inverse-electron-demand hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of cyclic ketones with enones to afford densely functionalized bicyclic skeletons that contain three stereocenters (up 82% yield, 10:1 d.r., and 97% ee). Unlike the previous IEDDAR catalytic strategy, this method features a double HOMO(dienophile)/ LUMO(diene)-activated pathway. Moreover, this process provides a promising method for the construction of enantioenriched macrolides.