Palladium-catalyzed [4+4] cycloadditions for highly diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of functionalized benzo[b]oxocines

Asymmetric cycloaddition reactions represent a powerful strategy for building up complex molecular architectures, especially those with medium-sized rings. Herein, we disclose a highly diastereo- and enantioselective cycloaddition strategy that involves the palladium-catalyzed [4 + 4] cycloaddition between ortho-quinone methides and gamma-methylene-delta-valerolactones. This method provided a straightforward and applicable approach to access various functionalized benzo[b]oxocines bearing adjacent all-carbon quaternary and tertiary stereocenters (38 examples, up to 95% yield, 20 : 1 dr, 98% ee). The process was efficient and scalable, and the products could be further transformed to various chiral eight-membered molecules. In addition, DFT calculations were performed to shed light on the mechanism of good stereoselectivities.