Catalytic Asymmetric Inverse‐Electron‐Demand Oxa‐Diels–Alder Reaction of In Situ Generated <i>ortho</i>‐Quinone Methides with 3‐Methyl‐2‐Vinylindoles

Abstract

Abstract The first catalytic asymmetric inverse‐electron‐demand (IED) oxa‐Diels–Alder reaction of ortho‐quinone methides, generated in situ from ortho‐hydroxybenzyl alcohols, has been established. By selecting 3‐methyl‐2‐vinylindoles as a class of competent dienophiles, this approach provides an efficient strategy to construct an enantioenriched chroman framework with three adjacent stereogenic centers in high yields and excellent stereoselectivities (up to 99 % yield, &gt;95:5 d.r., 99.5:0.5 e.r.). The utilization of ortho‐hydroxybenzyl alcohols as precursors of dienes and 3‐methyl‐2‐vinylindoles as dienophiles, as well as the hydrogen‐bonding activation mode of the substrates met the challenges of a catalytic asymmetric IED oxa‐Diels–Alder reaction.