Retro-Diels-Alder Protocol for the Synthesis of Pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidine and Pyrimido[2,1-a]isoindole Enantiomers

A simple protocol was introduced to prepare several enantiomerically pure heterocycles by using (–)-(1R,2R,3S,4S)-3-aminonorbornene-2-carboxylic acid as a chiral auxiliary. The protocol is based on a domino ring-closure reaction, in which the relative configuration of the new asymmetric center is controlled by the stereochemistry of the amino acid, followed by a microwave-induced retro-Diels–Alder reaction.