Bis-Sulfonyl Ethylene as Masked Acetylene Equivalent in Catalytic Asymmetric [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides

Abstract

Enantioenriched 3-pyrrolines have been synthesized by highly enantioselective Fesulphos-Cu-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with trans-1,2-bisphenylsulfonyl ethylene, followed by reductive sulfonyl elimination. High levels of reactivity, exoselectivity, and enantioselectivity have been accomplished for a variety of substituted azomethine ylides. This cycloaddition-desulfonylation strategy has been applied as a key step in the enantioselective synthesis of a biologically active C-azanucleoside.