Tandem Isomerization/α,β-Site-Selective and Enantioselective Addition Reactions of -(3-Butynoyl)-3,5-dimethylpyrazole Induced by Chiral π-Cu(II) Catalysts.

Allenes are important building blocks, and derivatization of products via cycloadditions of allenes could become a powerful strategy for constructing carbocyclic and heterocyclic rings. However, the development of catalytic site-selective and enantioselective cycloaddition reactions of allenes still presents significant challenges. Here, we report chiral π-Cu(II)-complex-catalyzed isomerization of -(3-butynoyl)-3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazole to generate -allenoylpyrazole and subsequent α,β-site-selective and enantioselective [3 + 2], [4 + 2], or [2 + 2] cycloaddition or conjugate addition reactions. The asymmetric environment created by the intramolecular π-Cu(II) interactions provides the corresponding adducts in moderate to high yield with excellent enantioselectivity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first successful method for chiral-Lewis-acid-catalyzed tandem isomerization/α,β-site-selective and enantioselective cycloaddition or conjugate addition reactions of latent non-γ-substituted allenoyl derivative.