Enantioselective (8+3) Cycloadditions by Activation of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes Employing Chiral Bronsted Base Catalysis

A novel enantioselective (8+3) cycloaddition between donor-acceptor cyclopropanes and heptafulvenoids catalysed by a chiral bifunctional Bronsted base is described. Importantly, the reaction, which leverages an anionic activation strategy, is divergent from prototypical Lewis-acid activation protocols. A series of cyclopropylketones react with tropones affording the desired (8+3) cycloadducts in high yield and enantiomeric excess. For barbiturate substituted heptafulvenes, the (8+3) cycloaddition with cyclopropylketones proceeds in good yield, excellent diastereoselectivity and high enantiomeric excess. The experimental work is supported by DFT calculations, which indicate that the bifunctional organocatalyst activates both the donor-acceptor cyclopropane and tropone; the reaction proceeds in a step-wise manner with the ring-closure being the stereodetermining step.

Automated summary

This study presents a novel enantioselective (8+3) cycloaddition reaction using a chiral bifunctional Bronsted base catalyst. The reaction leverages an anionic activation strategy and differs from typical Lewis-acid activation protocols. Experimental and computational results support the relevance of this reaction and its potential application in organic synthesis.