a EaStCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9ST, UK b MSD, Newhouse, Motherwell, ML1 5SH, UK
Abstract:
A range of pyrazolidin-3-ones have been prepared and their activity as catalysts for iminium-ion promoted Diels-Alder reactions evaluated. Systematic variation of the C(5)- and N(2)-substituents indicates that the incorporation of an electron withdrawing substitutent at N(2) and either a Ph or CF3 substitution at C(5) results in optimal catalytic activity. The diastereoisomeric resolution of a model C(5)-Ph substituted pyrazolidinone and its ability to impart modest levels of asymmetric induction in the organocatalytic Diels-Alder reaction is also demonstrated.