Lewis Acid Template-Catalyzed Asymmetric Diels–Alder Reaction

Abstract

An asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction of 2,4-dienols and methyl acrylate utilizing a chiral Zn­(II)/Mg­(II) bimetallic template with low catalyst loading was successfully achieved. The bimetallic Lewis acid template derived from (<i>R</i>)-5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′-octahydro-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol catalyzed the Diels–Alder reaction in the presence of molecular sieves 4 Å to afford various functionalized bicyclic γ-lactones with high enantiomeric purities