Poly(methylhydrosiloxane)-supported chiral imidazolinones: new versatile, highly efficient and recyclable organocatalysts for stereoselective Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions

Poly(methylhydrosiloxane) (PMHS) supported organic catalysts promoted the Diels-Alder reaction of dienes with alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, also in pure water, in yields and enantiomeric excesses comparable to those observed with the non-supported catalysts (up to 93% ee). Recycling of the catalysts was performed with no loss of enantioselectivity for at least five reaction cycles.