Enantioselective Diels–Alder reaction of anthracene by chiral tritylium catalysis

Abstract

The combination of the trityl cation and a chiral weakly coordinating Fe(III)-based bisphosphate anion was used to develop a new type of a highly active carbocation Lewis acid catalyst. The stereocontrol potential of the chiral tritylium ion pair was demonstrated by its application in an enantioselective Diels–Alder reaction of anthracene.

Keywords

• anthracene
• carbocation catalysis
• Diels–Alder reaction
• Fe(III)-based phosphate anion
• tritylium salt