Proline-catalyzed asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions of an o-quinodimethane

Catalytic asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of alpha-amino-o-quinodimethane with alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes was achieved with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities in the presence of L-proline, which acts as a promoter to generate the quinodimethane from the corresponding precursor as well as a chiral catalyst for the enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.