Iridium-Catalyzed Anti-Stereoselective Asymmetric Ring-Opening Reactions of Azabenzonorbornadienes with Carboxylic Acids.

The first anti-stereoselective asymmetric ring-opening reactions of azabenzonorbornadienes with carboxylic acids have been realized with an iridium catalyst assisted by nBu4NBr. The reaction features broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance and allows the synthesis of chiral dihydronaphthalene derivatives with high optical purities.