Organocatalytic Asymmetric Multicomponent Cascade Reaction for the Synthesis of Contiguously Substituted Tetrahydronaphthols

Isobenzopyrylium ions are unique, highly reactive, aromatic intermediates which are largely unexplored in asymmetric catalysis despite their high potential synthetic utility. In this study, an organocatalytic asymmetric multicomponent cascade via dienamine catalysis, involving a cycloaddition, a nucleophilic addition, and a ring-opening reaction, is disclosed. The reaction furnishes chiral tetrahydronaphthols containing four contiguous stereocenters in good to high yield, high diastereoselectivity (up to >20:1), and excellent enantioselectivity (93–98% ee). The obtained products are important synthetic intermediates, and it is demonstrated that they can be used for the generation of frameworks such as octahydro­benzo­[h]­isoquinoline and [2.2.2]­octane scaffolds. Furthermore, mechanistic experiments involving oxygen-18-labeling studies and density functional theory calculations provide a vivid picture of the reaction mechanism. Finally, the bioactivity of 16 representative tetrahydronaphthol compounds has been evaluated in U-2OS cancer cells with some compounds showing a unique profile and a clear morphological change.