C(2)-symmetric Cu(II) complexes as chiral lewis acids. Catalytic, enantioselective cycloadditions of silyl ketenes.

[reaction: see text] C(2)-Symmetric bis(oxazoline)-Cu(II) complexes (4a-g) catalyze the enantioselective [2 + 2] cycloaddition between (silyl)ketenes and chelating carbonyl substrates. A range of substituted beta-lactones can be produced in excellent yields and selectivities. It was also found that (trimethylsilyl)ketene (1) may also undergo a highly selective hetero Diels-Alder reaction with beta,gamma-unsaturated alpha-keto esters.

Racemic and asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions of 1-(2-oxazolidinon-3-yl)-3-siloxy-1,3-butadienes.

Achiral and chiral 1-(2-oxazolidinon-3-yl)-3-siloxy-1,3-butadienes were prepared from readily available starting materials. Although more stable than the parent 1-amino-3-siloxy dienes, the 1-(2-oxazolidinon-3-yl)-3-siloxy-1,3-butadienes are still very reactive in Diels-Alder reactions, somewhat more than 1,3-dialkoxy-1, 3-butadienes (e.g., Danishefsky's diene). The cycloadditions of the achiral and chiral dienes with several different dienophiles were examined. The reactions proceeded in good yield, with modest to high endo selectivity. The chiral dienes exhibited excellent facial selectivity in cycloadditions with alpha-substituted acroleins, maleic anhydride and N-phenylmaleimide. Upon reduction and hydrolysis of the cycloadducts, substituted cyclohexenones were obtained with ee's ranging from 22% to >98%.