Catalytic asymmetric inverse-electron-demand oxa-Diels-Alder reaction of in situ generated ortho-quinone methides with 3-methyl-2-vinylindoles.

The first catalytic asymmetric inverse-electron-demand (IED) oxa-Diels-Alder reaction of ortho-quinone methides, generated in situ from ortho-hydroxybenzyl alcohols, has been established. By selecting 3-methyl-2-vinylindoles as a class of competent dienophiles, this approach provides an efficient strategy to construct an enantioenriched chroman framework with three adjacent stereogenic centers in high yields and excellent stereoselectivities (up to 99 % yield, >95:5 d.r., 99.5:0.5 e.r.). The utilization of ortho-hydroxybenzyl alcohols as precursors of dienes and 3-methyl-2-vinylindoles as dienophiles, as well as the hydrogen-bonding activation mode of the substrates met the challenges of a catalytic asymmetric IED oxa-Diels-Alder reaction.