Catalytic Asymmetric Iodocyclization of N-Tosyl Alkenamides using Aminoiminophenoxy Copper Carboxylate: A Concise Synthesis of Chiral 8-Oxa-6-Azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes

A newly developed aminoiminophenoxy copper carboxylate (L7-Cu-OAc)-catalyzed asymmetric iodocyclization of N-Tosyl alkenamides gave O-cyclized products in good yields with high enantioselectivity. From the O-cyclized products, a skeletal transformation was succeeded in the synthesis of biologically important chiral 8-oxa-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1] octanes. DFT calculations suggested that the acetoxy anion of the [L7-Cu-OAc] acts as a base to generate the anion of N-Tosyl alkenamide substrates. The exchanged acetic acid reconstructs a new hydrogen-bonding network between the catalyst and the substrates to accomplish the highly efficient asymmetric O-iodocyclization of N-Tosyl alkenamides.