Copper(I)-Catalyzed Asymmetric 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides with Fluorinated Imines: The Expanded Scope and Mechanism Insights

The mechanism of the Cu­(I)/(S,Rp)-PPFOMe-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with fluorinated aldimines has been studied using labeling experiments, control experiments, and linear effect experiments, which clearly ruled out the 1,3-DC/epimerization pathways and explained the unusal exo′-selective stereochemistry. This protocol allows for the preparation of a series of highly functionalized fluorinated imidazolidines in good yields with excellent stereoselectivities. Moreover, the current methods have been successfully extended to synthesize more challenging imidazolidines bearing a CF3-containing quaternary stereogenic center via the endo-selective 1,3-DC of azomethine ylides with trifluorinated ketimine under identical reaction conditions.