Turning the Imidazole Core into Three-Dimensional Ring Systems: Mild Organocatalytic Entry to Enantiopure 6,7-Dihydrobenzimidazoles.

Organocatalytic asymmetric transformation of common aromatic heterocycles via in situ formation of highly reactive dearomatized ortho-quinodimethane diene species and subsequent [4+2] cycloaddition with suitable dienophiles has become a powerful tool to enter cyclohexane-fused heterocycles. Most of these reactions were previously applied to benzo-fused heterocycles or poorly aromatic rings. Herein, we disclose how previously intractable aromatic imidazole rings, equipped with removable methylidene malononitrile activating handle, could be involved as competent cycloaddends with β-aryl enals in efficient eliminative [4+2] cycloadditions under mild organocatalytic conditions. This method allowed the efficient and direct preparation of scantly represented 6,7-dihydrobenzo[d]imidazoles with optimal enantio- and regioselectivities. Post-cycloaddition chemical editing provided imidazole-based ring systems with diverse oxidation state and functional groups.