Enantioselective Organocatalytic Diels-Alder Reactions

Abstract

Enantioselective organocatalytic asymmetric Diels-Alder­ reactions provide a facile and efficient route to optically active functionalized cyclohexenes, which can be further transformed into a variety of important organic compounds. A variety of small organic molecules such as prolines, imidazolidinones, chiral Brønsted­ acids, guanidines, carbenes and Cinchona alkaloids can be used as different catalyst systems to induce enantioselectivity in the reaction. This review provides an overview of the history of the asymmetric organocatalyzed Diels-Alder reaction.We thank the Ministry of Science and Education (MEC, Madrid, Spain; Projects CTQ2007-67532-C02-01 and CTQ2009-09028), the Government of Aragón (Zaragoza, Spain; Project PI064/09 and Consolidated Groups, ref. E-10) and Spanish Council of Research (CSIC; Project PIE 200880I260) for financial support of our research. E.M.-L. thanks the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for a postdoctoral fellowship. R.P.H. thanks ARAI+D Foundation for a permanent position.Peer Reviewe