Copper(I)-Catalyzed Asymmetric [3+2] Cycloaddition

Significance

The authors extended their work on [3+2] cycloadditions to using N-(2-pyridylmethyl) imines as azomethine precursors. Herein, an efficient copper(I)/bisoxazoline catalyst system was reported for this cycloaddition of N-(2-pyridyl­methyl)imines with various dipolarophiles, including maleimides, fumarates, fumarodinitriles, enones as well as nitroalkenes. The desired product was obtained with high enantioselectivities (up to 97%) and moderate to high exo/endo selectivities.