Organocatalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Dihydrobenzoxazinones Bearing Trifluoromethylated Quaternary Stereocenters

Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed enantioselective aza-Friedel-Crafts reaction of trifluoromethyl benzoxazinones with pyrroles is reported. Under mild conditions, a range of enantioenriched dihydrobenzoxazinones bearing trifiuoromethylated quaternary stereocenters could be obtained in good to excellent yield and ee. A remarkable fluorine effect is observed, and preliminary mechanistic studies combined with theory calculations suggest that triple-hydrogen-bonding interactions hold the transition structure rigidly and allow the bulky substituents of the catalyst to influence the enantioselectivity.