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An asymmetric normal-electron-demand aza-Diels-Alder cycloaddition of 2-aryl-3H-indol-3-ones and 2,4-dienals was explored via trienamine catalysis of a chiral secondary amine. Multifunctional tricyclic polyhydropyrido[1,2-a]indoles were efficiently constructed in good stereoselectivity (up to 92% ee, >19 : 1 dr).

Electron-deficient 1-aza-1,3-butadienes containing a 1,2-benzoisothiazole-1,1-dioxide or 1,2,3-benzoxathiazine-2,2-dioxide motif act as regio- and chemoselective dienophiles in normal-electron-demand Diels-Alder reactions with HOMO-raised trienamines, rather than typical 4π-participation in inverse-electron-demand versions. The enantioenriched cycloadducts could be efficiently converted to spiro or fused frameworks with high structural and stereogenic complexity by a sequential aza-benzoin reaction or other transformations.

An aminocatalytic asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of 2,4-dienals and labile 1-indenones in situ generated from 3-bromo-1-indanones was developed, producing highly fused indane products with multiple chiral centres followed by a cascade N-heterocyclic carbene-mediated benzoin condensation.

Switchable reaction patterns of β-substituted cyclic enones via amine-based dienamine activation are reported. While γ-regioselective vinylogous Michael addition was observed with alkylidenemalononitriles, a completely different [4 + 2] cycloaddition was obtained with allylidene- or alkynylidenemalononitrile substrates, affording densely substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes or analogous architectures with moderate to excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity by the catalysis of primary amines from natural quinidine or quinine. Importantly, high diastereodivergence was achieved through unusual hydrogen-bonding interactions of multifunctional primary-amine catalytic systems. Endo cycloadducts were efficiently produced using a combination of 9-amino-9-deoxyepiquinidine and salicylic acid, while exo variants were obtained using 6'-hydroxy-9-amino-9-deoxyepiquinidine. Moreover, we successfully isolated the Michael addition intermediates in some cases, indicating that the above [4 + 2] reaction via dienamine catalysis may proceed by a stepwise Michael-Michael cascade rather than by a concerted Diels-Alder cycloaddition pathway.