Asymmetric Kita spirolactonisation catalysed by anti-dimethanoanthracene-based iodoarenes

Enantiopure C-2-symmetric iodoarenes based on the rigid all-carbon anti-dimethanoanthracene framework are shown to catalyse the asymmetric oxidative Kita spirolactonisation of propanoic acid-tethered 1-naphthols with significant levels of asymmetric induction of up to 67% ee.