Control of absolute stereochemistry during ene-type coupling between diene–Fe(CO)₃groups and alkenes

Abstract

Excellent stereocontrol during the ene-type coupling between diene–Fe(CO)3 groups and alkenes can be achieved by appropriate substitution at C(5) of the diene ring, allowing the preparation of spirolactams and spirolactones in enantiomerically pure form, thus showing the cyclization reaction to be a valuable tool in the asymmetric construction of quaternary and spiro carbon centres.