Phosphine-Catalyzed Stereospecific and Enantioselective Desymmetrizative 3+2 Cycloaddition of MBH Carbonates and N-(2-tert-Butylphenyl)maleimides

Herein, we report an l-valine-derived amide phosphine-catalyzed 3+2 cyclization of MBH carbonates and N-(2-tert-butylphenyl)maleimides via asymmetric desymmetrization. Bicyclic N-aryl succinimide derivatives bearing three continuous chiral centers with a remote C–N atropisomeric chirality were constructed stereospecifically and enantioselectively. A wide variety of MBH carbonates could be employed in this process to deliver highly optically pure succinimide derivatives in moderate to excellent yields.