Catalytic Enantioselective Desymmetrization of Norbornenoquinones via C(sp2)-H Alkylation

The enantioselective Diels Alder (DA) reaction with monosubstituted p-benzoquinones is an unmet challenge. A new approach for the enantioselective synthesis of monosubstituted quinone-DA adducts is presented based on C(sp(2)) H alkylative desymmetrization of meso-DA adducts. Catalyzed by a tertiary amino-thiourea derivative, this reaction utilizes nitroalkanes as the alkylating agents and generates densely functionalized products bearing at least four contiguous stereogenic centers remote from the reaction site with excellent enantioselectivities.