Janus Face of the Steric Effect in a Lewis Acid Catalyst with Size-Exclusion Design: Steric Repulsion and Steric Attraction in the Catalytic Exo-Selective Diels-Alder Reaction

摘要

An exo-selective catalytic Diels Alder reaction was developed using a Lewis acid catalyst with size-exclusion structural design. Exploiting the steric effect, especially the steric attraction, the Lewis acid catalyst was able to reroute the reaction along a higher-energy pathway. The experimental findings were also supported by theoretical calculations. This catalyst development allows an easy and practical access to highly complex and pharmaceutically relevant compounds.