Asymmetric Carbene-Catalyzed Oxidation of Functionalized Aldimines as 1,4-Dipoles

The use of functionalized aldimines has been demonstrated as newly structural 1,4-dipole precursors under carbene catalysis. More importantly, enantiodivergent organocatalysis has been successfully developed using carbene catalysts with the same absolute configuration, leading to both (R)- and (S)- enantiomers of six-membered heterocycles with quaternary carbon centers. This strategy features a broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions, and good enantiomeric ratio. DFT calculation results indicated that hydrogen bond C-H⋅⋅⋅F interactions between the catalyst and substrate are the key factors for controlling and even switching the enantioselectivity. These new 1,4-dipoles can also react with isatin and its imines under carbene catalysis, allowing for access to the spiro oxindoles with excellent enantiomeric ratios.