Selectivity in Catalytic Asymmetric Formal [3 + 3] Annulation of 2-Enoyl-pyridine N-Oxide with Benzyl Methyl Ketone

Abstract

The asymmetric formal [3 + 3] annulation process of (E)-2-(3-phenylacryloyl)pyridine N-oxide with benzyl methyl ketone was investigated. The possibility of a stereoselective outcome was checked using salts of natural amino acids, as well as chiral bifunctional derivatives containing amino groups and thiourea or squaramide fragments as organocatalysts. Different types of organocatalysts applied led to opposite enantiomers of 2-(3-oxo-4,5-diphenyl-cyclohex-1-en-yl)pyridine 1-oxide (up to 60% ee). Spectroscopic analysis of the isolated product and analysis of the reaction course was carried out, taking into account the obtained regio- and stereoselectivity. In order to verify the postulated results, calculations of the energy of the intermediate reaction products and the final product using the Kohn–Sham Density Functional Theory (KS-DFT) were made.