Highly enantioselective Biginelli reaction using a new chiral ytterbium catalyst: asymmetric synthesis of dihydropyrimidines.

The highly enantioselective three-component Biginelli condensation catalyzed by a recyclable chiral ytterbium triflate with a novel hexadentate amine phenol ligand containing a pyridyl group has been developed. A wide range of optically active dihydropyrimidines with remarkable pharmacological interest was obtained in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities under mild conditions.