N,N'-Dioxide/nickel(ii)-catalyzed asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene with 2,3-dioxopyrrolidines and 2-alkenoyl pyridines.

A chiral N,N'-dioxide/Ni(OTf)2 complex-catalyzed asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene with 2,3-dioxopyrrolidines and 2-alkenoyl pyridines has been achieved. The corresponding chiral bridged compounds were obtained in high yields with excellent dr and ee values (up to 97% yield, 95 : 5 dr and 97% ee).