Enantioselective Synthesis of Quaternary Δ4 - and Δ5 -Dehydroprolines Based on a Two-Step Formal [3+2] Cycloaddition of α-Aryl and α-Alkyl Isocyano(thio)acetates with Vinyl Ketones.

A divergent synthesis of optically active quaternary Δ4 - and Δ5 -dehydro prolines is developed based on the first catalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of α-substituted isocyano(thio)acetates to vinyl ketones that is general for both α-aryl and α-alkyl isocyano(thio)acetates. The new tetrasubstituted C-N stereocenter is formed without the need of any metal salt due to a bifunctional tertiary amine/squaramide catalyst, featuring a bulky polyaryl sidearm and an unusually short squaramide diamide H⋅⋅⋅H interatomic distance in the solid state.