The absence of catalytic asymmetric methods for synthesizing chiral (hetero)bicyclo[n.1.1]alkanes has hindered their application in new drug discovery. Herein the authors report an enantioselective formal (3 + 3) cycloaddition of bicyclobutanes with nitrones using a chiral Lewis acid catalyst for the synthesis of hetero-bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane.
- Wen-Biao Wu
- Bing Xu
- Jian-Jun Feng