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A new approach is described for the asymmetric synthesis of 1-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines that is based on the enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of a nitrone and a vinyl ether in the presence of a chiral phosphoric acid that gives the chiral tetrahydroisoquinolines in high yields and with high enantioselectivities.1 H and31 P NMR analyses of the mixture of nitrone and chiral phosphoric acid suggest the formation of a 1:1 complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]