Catalytic Enantioselective [3+2] Cycloaddition of α-Keto Ester Enolates and Nitrile Oxides

An enantioselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between nitrile oxides and transiently generated enolates of a-keto esters has been developed. The catalyst system was found to be compatible with in situ nitrile oxide generation conditions. A versatile array of nitrile oxides and alpha-keto esters could participate in the cycloaddition, providing novel S-hydroxy-2-isoxazolines in high chemical yield with high levels of diastereo- and enantioselectivity. Notably, the optimal reaction conditions circumvented concurrent reactions via O-imidoylation and hetero-[3 + 2] pathways.