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We report herein an efficient approach for the enantioselective synthesis of inherently chiral calix[4]arenes via palladium-catalyzed asymmetric intramolecular C-H arylations. Using a chiral bifunctional phosphine-carboxylate ligand, the inherent chirality on macrocyclic scaffolds was induced successfully, from which a wide range of calix[4]arenes with fluorenone motifs were obtained with good yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to99% ee). The synthetic utility of this method was demonstrated by diverse transformations of the products, thus substantially expanding the chemical space of chiral calix[4]arenes. Further investigations of photophysical and chiroptical properties revealed that calix[4]arenes bearing two fluorenone moieties displayed remarkable

Diels–Alder reactions of 2-pyrones with alkenes can provide highly functionalized [2,2,2]-bicyclic lactones under mild reaction conditions. Synthetic utilizations of these reactions have been well demonstrated in natural-product synthesis. Although several catalytic asymmetric strategies have been realized, current research in this area is still largely underdeveloped. Recent advances in enantioselective inverse-electron-demand Diels–Alder reactions with Lewis acid catalysis are reviewed.1 Introduction2 State of the Art of Enantioselective Diels–Alder Reactions of 2-Pyrones by Lewis Acid Catalysis3 Enantioselective Synthesis of Arene cis-Dihydrodiols by Diels–­Alder/Retro-Diels–Alder Reactions of 2-Pyrones4 Enantioselective Synthesis of cis-Decalin Derivatives by Diels–­Alder Reactions of 2-Pyrones5 Conclusions

A novel strategy for the synthesis of cis-decalins by an ytterbium-catalyzed asymmetric inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction of 2-pyrones and silyl cyclohexadienol ethers is reported here. A broad range of synthetically important cis-decalin derivatives with multiple contiguous stereogenic centers and functionalities are obtained in good yields and stereoselectivities. A full set of diastereomeric substituted cis-decalin motifs are readily accessible by tuning the absolute configurations of substituted silyl cyclohexadienol ethers (R or S) as well as the ligands (R or S). The synthetic potential is showcased by the enantioselective total synthesis of 4-amorphen-11-ol, and further demonstrated by the first total synthesis of cis-crotonin.

An enantioselective chemical synthesis of arene cis-dihydrodiols has been realized from 2-pyrones through sequential ytterbium-catalyzed asymmetric inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) reaction of 2-pyrones and retro-Diels-Alder extrusion of CO2 . By using this strategy, a series of substituted arene cis-dihydrodiols can be obtained efficiently with high enantioselectivity (>99 % ee in many cases). Based on this strategy, efficient and concise asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-MK7607 and 1-epi-(+)-MK7607 were accomplished.