Asymmetric [4+2], [6+2], and [6+4] Cycloadditions of Isomeric Formyl Cycloheptatrienes Catalyzed by a Chiral Diamine Catalyst

Novel asymmetric aminocatalytic cycloadditions are described between formyl cycloheptatrienes and 6,6-dimethylfulvene that lead to [4 + 2], [6 + 2], and [4 + 6] cycloadducts. The unprecedented reaction course is dependent on the position of the formyl functionality in the cycloheptatriene core, and each formyl cycloheptatriene isomer displays a distinct reactivity pattern. The formyl cycloheptatriene isomers are activated by a chiral primary diamine catalyst, and the activation mode is dependent on the position of the formyl functionality relative to the cycloheptatriene core. The [4 + 2] and [6 + 2] cycloadducts are formed via rare iminocatalytic inverse electron-demand cycloadditions, while the [4 + 6] cycloadduct is formed by a normal electron-demand cycloaddition. The reactivity displayed by the different formyl cycloheptatrienes was investigated by DFT calculations. These computational studies account for the different reaction paths for the three isomeric formyl cycloheptatrienes. The aminocatalytic [4 + 2], [6 + 2], and [4 + 6] cycloadditions proceed by stepwise processes, and the interplay between conjugation, substrate distortion, and dispersive interactions between the fulvene and aminocatalyst mainly defines the outcome of each cycloaddition.