Phosphine-Catalyzed Highly Enantioselective [3+3] Cycloaddition of Morita-Baylis-Hillman Carbonates with C,N-Cyclic Azomethine Imines

The first phosphine-catalyzed highly enantioselective [3 + 3] cycloaddition of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates with C,N-cyclic azomethine imines is described. Using a spirocyclic chiral phosphine as the catalyst, a novel class of pharmaceutically interesting 4,6,7,11b-tetrahydro-1H-pyridazino[6,1-a]iso-quinoline derivatives were obtained in high yields with good to excellent diastereoselectivities and extremely excellent enantioselectivities (98>99% ee).