Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Ring-Opening Reactions of Oxabenzonorbornadienes with Amine Nucleophiles

We have explored a new iridium-catalyzed ring-opening reaction of oxabenzonorbornadienes with a variety of primary aromatic amine or N-substituted piperazine nucleophiles, affording the corresponding products in excellent yields (up to 99%) with moderate enantioselectivity (25-81% ee). The trans configuration of product 2d was confirmed by X-ray crystallography.