Catalytic enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction via a chiral indium(III) complex

reaction: see text] A chiral indium complex has been developed to effect high enantioselectivities in catalyzing enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction. The cycloaddition of a variety of cyclic and open-chained dienes to 2-methacrolein and 2-bromoacrolein resulted in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).