Enantioselective Rhodium-Catalyzed [4+2+2] Cycloaddition of Dienyl Isocyanates for the Synthesis of Bicyclic Azocine Rings

A highly enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed [4+2+2] cycloaddition of terminal alkynes and dienyl isocyanates has been developed. The cycloaddition provides a rapid entry to highly functionalized and enantioenriched bicyclic azocines. This reaction represents the first [4+2+2] cycloaddition strategy to construct nitrogen-containing eight-membered rings.