Asymmetric approach to the pentacyclic skeleton of Aspidosperma alkaloids via enantioselective intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of carbonyl ylides catalyzed by chiral dirhodium(II) carboxylates

This Letter describes asymmetric tandem carbonyl ylide formation-intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of diazo imides containing a tethered indole catalyzed by chiral dirhodium(II) carboxylates as ail approach to the pentacyclic skeleton of Aspidosperma alkaloids. The cycloaddition of carbonyl ylides derived from indolyl-substituted 2-diazo-5-imido-3-ketoesters Under the influence of dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N-tetrachlorophthaloyl-(S)-tert-]leucinate], Rh-2(S-TCPTTL)(4), provides cycloadducts in moderate yields and enantioselectivities of up to 66% ee as well as with perfect endo diastereoselectivity. This is the first example of asymmetric induction in an intramolecular cycloaddition of a carbonyl ylide across an indolyl pi-bond. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.