Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of the endo-6-aryl-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-en-2-one natural product from Ligusticum chuanxing via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a formyl-derived carbonyl ylide using Rh2(S-TCPTTL)4.

The reaction of a six-membered cyclic formyl-carbonyl ylide derived from alpha-diazo-beta-ketoester with phenylacetylene derivatives under the catalysis of dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N-tetrachlorophthaloyl-(S)-tert-leucinate], Rh(2)(S-TCPTTL)(4), provides cycloadducts containing an 8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring system in up to 97% ee. This represents the first example of an enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a cyclic formyl-carbonyl ylide. Using this catalytic process, an asymmetric synthesis of endo-6-aryl-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-en-2-one natural product 1 from Ligusticum chuanxing Hort. has been achieved.