New chiral scandium(III)/bisimine and diol complexes catalyzed asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction

Several bisimine and diol-based chiral ligands were examined as scandium(III) triflate complexes in the asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene (2) with 3-acryloyloxazolidin-2-one (1) in the presence of 2,6-lutidine: the scandium/salen complex was revealed to be the most effective catalyst, which afforded the endo adduct in a good yield with 85% ee. Addition of a tertiary amine, such as 2,6-lutidine, was critical to achieve high enantioselectivity; enantioselectivity was remarkably decreased in the absence of the amine.