Enantioselective Construction of Chiral THIQUINOL and Its Derivatives via Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalysis

The first catalytic enantioselective construction of chiral THIQUINOL and its derivatives has been accomplished through a chiral phosphoric-acid-catalyzed direct aza-Friedel–Crafts reaction of 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines with 2-naphthols/anthracen-2-ols/phenanthren-9-ol. This method offers a powerful and straightforward synthetic route toward chiral THIQUINOL derivatives with good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities. These structural motifs are crucial chiral components for further transformations into established or potential chiral ligands and catalysis.