Highly diastereoselective synthesis of 2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene derivatives: Bronsted acid catalyzed aza-Diels–Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene and imino-acetates with two chiral auxiliaries

The cycloaddition between protonated glyoxylate imines possessing two chiral auxiliaries, N-(S)- or N-(R)-1-phenylethyl and (−)-8-phenylmenthyl or (+)-8-phenylneomenthyl, and cyclopentadiene is described. The absolute configuration of all adducts formed was unequivocally assigned through NMR, specific optical rotation, and X-ray data of appropriated derivatives. Experimental results confirm the highly exo-selectivity for these aza-Diels–Alder reactions, single adducts being obtained from combinations of (8PM)-(R-PEA) and (8PNM)-(S-PEA).