(R)‑DM-SEGPHOS–Ag(I)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of Pyrrolidines and Pyrrolizidines via (1,3)- and Double (1,3)-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions

An efficient diastereo- and enantioselective route to access a wide range of highly substituted pyrrolidine and pyrrolizidine derivatives has been described via (1,3)- and double (1,3)-dipolar cycloaddition reactions catalyzed by the (R)-DM-SEGPHOS–Ag­(I) complex. The reactions proceed smoothly at ambient temperature, affording a variety of pyrrolidines and pyrrolizidines in high yields (up to 93%) with up to 99:1 dr and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) without any additives. The newly synthesized pyrrolidine and pyrrolizidine derivatives contain four and seven contiguous stereogenic centers, respectively. Moreover, the synthetic utility of enantioenriched products has been demonstrated by transforming them into various synthetically useful advanced intermediates.