Catalytic Asymmetric [4+2]-Cycloaddition of Dienes with Aldehydes

Despite its significant potential, a general catalytic asymmetric [4+2]-cycloaddition of simple and electronically unbiased dienes with any type of aldehyde has long been unknown. Previously developed methodologies invariably require activated, electronically engineered substrates. We now provide a general solution to this problem. We show that highly acidic and confined imidodiphosphorimidates (IDPis) are extremely effective Brønsted acid catalysts of the hetero-Diels–Alder reaction of a wide variety of aldehydes and dienes to give enantiomerically enriched dihydropyrans. Excellent stereoselectivity is generally observed and a variety of scents and natural products can be easily accessed.