Silver(I)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Desymmetrization of Cyclopentenediones: Access to Highly Functionalized Bicyclic Pyrrolidines

A highly enantioselective desymmetrization of prochiral cyclopentenediones via Ag(I)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylide has been developed successfully. The methodology performs well over a broad scope of substrates, which provides facile access to a series of highly functionalized bicyclic pyrrolidine/cyclopentane derivatives in good to high yields with excellent stereoselectivities.