Regioselective and Asymmetric Diels−Alder Reaction of 1- and 2-Substituted Cyclopentadienes Catalyzed by a Brønsted Acid Activated Chiral Oxazaborolidine

Cationic oxazaborolidine 2 affords Diels−Alder adducts of ethyl acrylate and 2-substituted cyclopentadienes, derived from the corresponding mixture of regioisomers, as single isomers in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. Furthermore, Diels−Alder adducts of 1-substituted cyclopentadienes are obtained through a one-pot procedure whereby ethyl acrylate is initially employed to consume all 2-substituted cyclopentadiene. Subsequently, various 2,5-disubstituted benzoquinones are added to react with remaining 1-substituted cyclopentadiene. Remarkably, reaction occurs selectively at the double bond coordinated anti to catalyst 2 to provide adducts containing adjacent all-carbon quaternary stereocenters in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities.