Establishing cleavage conditions for an anthracene chiral auxiliary using a photochemical retro Diels–Alder reaction

Photochemical Diels–Alder additions of chiral 9-anthranyl ethanol derivatives have been conducted giving rise to addition adducts in reasonable yield and excellent diastereoselectivity. Thermal and photochemical retro Diels–Alder additions have also been achieved providing a facile cleavage method for use of this compound as a new chiral auxiliary.