Asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of a chiral nonracemic glyoxylic azomethine imine

The reactivity of a chiral nonracemic glyoxylic azomethine imine has been investigated. This species reacts with a wide range of dipolarophiles, with a complete regio- and facial stereoselectivity. The introduction of an electron-withdrawing substituent on the ylide leads to a lower endo selectivity with electron-withdrawing dipolarophiles, but to an improved exo selectivity with styrene derivatives when compared to the reactivity of aliphatic- or aromatic-substituted ylides.