Highly efficient and diastereodivergent aza-Diels–Alder reactions have been developed to access either diastereomeric series of benzofuran-fused δ-lactams and dihydropyridines in nearly perfect stereoselectivity (d.r. >20:1, >99 % ee for all examples). The complementarity of N-heterocyclic carbene and chiral amine as the catalyst was demonstrated for the first time, together with an excellent level of catalytic efficiency (1 mol % loading).

The allylation of heterobicyclic alkenes is presented for the first time. By using an inexpensive cobalt salt as the catalyst and easy-to-handle potassium allyltrifluoroborate as the reagent, an unprecedented formal hydroallylation of the bicyclic alkenes is realized in high efficiency. When a chiral cobalt/bis(phosphine) complex is used instead, the alternative ring-opening products can be obtained in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity.

The allylation of heterobicyclic alkenes is presented for the first time. By using an inexpensive cobalt salt as the catalyst and easy-to-handle potassium allyltrifluoroborate as the reagent, an unprecedented formal hydroallylation of the bicyclic alkenes is realized in high efficiency. When a chiral cobalt/bis(phosphine) complex is used instead, the alternative ring-opening products can be obtained in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity.

We present here a highly efficient NHC-catalyzed kinetic resolution of a wide range of 1,1′-biaryl-2,2′-diols and amino alcohols to provide them in uniformly ≥99 % ee. This represents the first highly enantioselective catalytic acylation of axially chiral alcohols. The aldehyde backbone that is incorporated into the chiral acyl azolium intermediate was found to have a significant effect on the enantioselectivity of the process.

The catalytic asymmetric reduction of ketimines has been explored extensively for the synthesis of chiral amines, with reductants ranging from Hantzsch esters, silanes, and formic acid to H₂ gas. Alternatively, the amination of alcohols by the use of borrowing hydrogen methodology has proven a highly atom economical and green method for the production of amines without an external reductant, as the alcohol substrate serves as the H₂ donor. A catalytic enantioselective variant of this process for the synthesis of chiral amines, however, was not known. We have examined various transition-metal complexes supported by chiral ligands known for asymmetric hydrogenation reactions, in combination with chiral Brønsted acids, which proved essential for the formation of the imine intermediate and the transfer-hydrogenation step. Our studies led to an asymmetric amination of alcohols to provide access to a wide range of chiral amines with good to excellent enantioselectivity.

Presented herein is a new complexity-generating method in which both functionalities of α-imino esters undergo stereoselective cyclization with isocyanoacetates to produce directly linked oxazole-imidazolines, which can be transformed into highly functionalized α,β-diamino esters and imidazolinium salts in high diastereo- and enantiopurity.

The catalytic asymmetric reduction of ketimines has been explored extensively for the synthesis of chiral amines, with reductants ranging from Hantzsch esters, silanes, and formic acid to H₂ gas. Alternatively, the amination of alcohols by the use of borrowing hydrogen methodology has proven a highly atom economical and green method for the production of amines without an external reductant, as the alcohol substrate serves as the H₂ donor. A catalytic enantioselective variant of this process for the synthesis of chiral amines, however, was not known. We have examined various transition-metal complexes supported by chiral ligands known for asymmetric hydrogenation reactions, in combination with chiral Brønsted acids, which proved essential for the formation of the imine intermediate and the transfer-hydrogenation step. Our studies led to an asymmetric amination of alcohols to provide access to a wide range of chiral amines with good to excellent enantioselectivity.

Presented herein is a new complexity-generating method in which both functionalities of α-imino esters undergo stereoselective cyclization with isocyanoacetates to produce directly linked oxazole-imidazolines, which can be transformed into highly functionalized α,β-diamino esters and imidazolinium salts in high diastereo- and enantiopurity.

We present here a highly efficient NHC-catalyzed kinetic resolution of a wide range of 1,1′-biaryl-2,2′-diols and amino alcohols to provide them in uniformly ≥99 % ee. This represents the first highly enantioselective catalytic acylation of axially chiral alcohols. The aldehyde backbone that is incorporated into the chiral acyl azolium intermediate was found to have a significant effect on the enantioselectivity of the process.