Cu-Catalyzed Asymmetric 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of N -2,2,2-Trifluoroethylisatin Ketimines Enables the Desymmetrization of N -Arylmaleimides: Access to Enantioenriched F 3 C-Containing Octahydropyrrolo[3,4- c ]pyrroles.

With a Cu(OTf) 2 /chiral ferrocenyl P,N-ligand complex as a catalyst, the enantioselective desymmetrization of N -arylmaleimides was successfully realized by taking advantage of the asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of N -2,2,2-trifluoroethylisatin ketimines. A series of structurally diverse F 3 C-containing octahydropyrrolo[3,4- c ]pyrroles, bearing four contiguous carbon stereocenters and one stereogenic chiral C-N axial bond, were obtained with excellent results (≤99% yield, >20:1 dr, and 99% ee).