Palladium-catalyzed [4 + 2] cycloaddition of aldimines and 1,4-dipolar equivalents via amphiphilic allylation.

The combination of Pd catalyst and diethylzinc with triethylborane promotes the amphiphilic allylation of aldimines with 2,3-bismethylenebutane-1,4-diol derivatives to serve as bis-allylic zwitterion species to form 3,4-bismethylenepiperidines via a formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction. 3,4-Bismethylenepiperidine rings are applicable for the synthesis of isoquinoline derivatives via the Diels-Alder reaction followed by an oxidation reaction with DDQ.