β-Trifluoromethyl (CF₃) enones were proved to act as good dienophiles in asymmetric normal-electron-demand Diels–Alder cycloadditions with 2,4-dienals under trienamine catalysis with a chiral secondary amine. The sequential reductive amination transformations with benzylamine produced cis- and trans-fused chiral trifluoromethylated octahydroisoquinolines in a diastereodivergent manner by using NaBH(OAc)₃ and NaBH₃CN as the reductants, respectively. Moreover, other types of activated alkenes that bear a CF₃ group have also been successfully utilized to construct a diverse range of chiral cyclic frameworks in high stereoselectivity.

An asymmetric formal [3+3] cycloaddition process with diversely structured aliphatic ketones and electron-deficient cyclic 1-azadienes was developed by cascade enamine–enamine catalysis of a cinchona-based primary amine. This sequence involved a domino Michael addition–Mannich reaction to afford spirocyclic architectures in excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity. Importantly, high regioselectivity was realized for a number of unsymmetrical aliphatic ketone substrates.

While significant progress has been made in Diels–Alder cycloadditions of 2,4-dienals by the formation of trienamine intermediates, we report that the further extended tetraenamine species can be generated from 2,4,6-trienal substrates, which subsequently act as 3,6-regioselective diene partners in asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction with 3-olefinic oxindole dienophiles. An array of highly functionalized spirocyclic compounds were produced in good stereoselectivity up to 96 % ee and greater than 19:1 d.r., and with fair to moderate yields of 40–67 %.

An asymmetric direct ϵ-regioselective bisvinylogous 1,6-addition reaction of β-allyl-2-cyclohexenone to β-substituted α,α-dicyanodienes was developed through trienamine catalysis of a bifunctional primary amine–thiourea compound. Excellent enantioselectivity (up to 97 % ee) was obtained even through such a remote reaction mode. In addition, more complex cyclic frameworks could be efficiently constructed with high stereoselectivity.

A few aminocatalytic modes, such as iminium ions and different dienamines, have provided versatile tools for the functionalization of cyclic enones at various sites. Described here is a previously unreported cascade dienamine/dienamine catalytic pathway for β-substituted 2-cyclopentenones, and even 2-cyclohexenone. It involves domino α′-regioselective Michael addition and a γ-regioselective Mannich reaction with 3-vinyl-1,2-benzoisothiazole-1,1-dioxides to give fused or bridged architectures, which incorporate a spirocyclic skeleton, in excellent stereocontrol, thus furnishing unusual [5+3] formal cycloaddition reactions. Moreover, preliminary biological assays showed that some of the chiral products exhibited promising activity against some cancer cell lines, thus indicating that such skeletons might serve as leads in drug discovery.

Catalytic asymmetric Friedel–Crafts alkylation is a powerful protocol for constructing a chiral C(sp²)C(sp³) bond. Most previous examples rely on LUMO activation of the electrophiles using chiral catalysts with subsequent attack by electron-rich arenes. Presented herein is an alternative strategy in which the HOMO of the aromatic π system of 2-furfuryl ketones is raised through the formation of a formal trienamine species using a chiral primary amine. Exclusive regioselective alkylation at the 5-position occurred with alkylidenemalononitriles, and high reactivity and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 95 % ee) was obtained by this remote activation.

A few aminocatalytic modes, such as iminium ions and different dienamines, have provided versatile tools for the functionalization of cyclic enones at various sites. Described here is a previously unreported cascade dienamine/dienamine catalytic pathway for β-substituted 2-cyclopentenones, and even 2-cyclohexenone. It involves domino α′-regioselective Michael addition and a γ-regioselective Mannich reaction with 3-vinyl-1,2-benzoisothiazole-1,1-dioxides to give fused or bridged architectures, which incorporate a spirocyclic skeleton, in excellent stereocontrol, thus furnishing unusual [5+3] formal cycloaddition reactions. Moreover, preliminary biological assays showed that some of the chiral products exhibited promising activity against some cancer cell lines, thus indicating that such skeletons might serve as leads in drug discovery.

Catalytic asymmetric Friedel–Crafts alkylation is a powerful protocol for constructing a chiral C(sp²)C(sp³) bond. Most previous examples rely on LUMO activation of the electrophiles using chiral catalysts with subsequent attack by electron-rich arenes. Presented herein is an alternative strategy in which the HOMO of the aromatic π system of 2-furfuryl ketones is raised through the formation of a formal trienamine species using a chiral primary amine. Exclusive regioselective alkylation at the 5-position occurred with alkylidenemalononitriles, and high reactivity and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 95 % ee) was obtained by this remote activation.