Cu-Catalyzed Asymmetric 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of N-2,2,2-Trifluoroethylisatin Ketimines Enables the Desymmetrization of N-Arylmaleimides: Access to Enantioenriched F3C-Containing Octahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrroles

With a Cu(OTf)(2)/chiral ferrocenyl P,N-ligand complex as a catalyst, the enantioselective desymmetrization of N-arylmaleimides was successfully realized by taking advantage of the asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of N-2,2,2-trifluoroethylisatin ketimines. A series of structurally diverse F3C-containing octahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrroles, bearing four contiguous carbon stereocenters and one stereogenic chiral C-N axial bond, were obtained with excellent results (<= 99% yield, >20:1 dr, and 99% ee).

Automated summary

In this study, the enantioselective desymmetrization of N-arylmaleimides was achieved using a Cu(OTf)(2)/chiral ferrocenyl P,N-ligand complex as a catalyst, through the asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of N-2,2,2-trifluoroethylisatin ketimines. A series of structurally diverse F3C-containing octahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrroles, bearing four contiguous carbon stereocenters and one stereogenic chiral C-N axial bond, were obtained with excellent results (<= 99% yield, >20:1 dr, and 99% ee).