Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.133, No.37, 14578-14581, 2011
Dual Catalysis in Enantioselective Oxidopyrylium-Based [5+2] Cycloadditions
A new method for effecting catalytic enantioselective intramolecular [5 + 2] cycloadditions based on oxidopyrylium intermediates is reported. The dual catalyst system consists of a chiral primary aminothiourea and a second achiral thiourea. Experimental evidence points to a new type of cooperative catalysis with each species being necessary to generate a reactive pyrylium ion pair that undergoes subsequent cycloaddition with high enantioselectivity.