A straightforward entry to chiral carbocyclic nucleoside analogues via the enantioselective [3+2] cycloaddition of α-nucleobase substituted acrylates.

A straightforward entry to chiral carbocyclic nucleoside analogues has been realized via the enantioselective [3+2] cycloaddition of α-nucleobase substituted acrylates to vinyl cyclopropanes for the first time. With Pd2(dba)3-L5 as the catalyst, carbocyclic purine, uracil, and thymine nucleoside analogues with quaternary stereocenters were obtained in excellent yields (up to 99% yield) and good enantioselectivities (up to 92% ee).