Abstract
The Diels–Alder reaction (DAR) is one of the most effective and reliable strategies for the construction of six-membered carbocyclic and heterocyclic rings, and it is widely used in the synthesis of organic molecules and drugs. Due to the high regio- and stereo-selectivity and its versatility, DARs have represented a powerful tool for organic chemistry for many years. In addition, the asymmetric DAR has become a fundamental synthetic approach in the preparation of optically active six-membered rings and natural compounds. The COVID-19-related pandemic requires continuous research; DAR represents an useful method to obtain optically active intermediates for the synthesis of antiviral agents under different catalytic conditions. We would like to highlight an intriguing synthetic procedure applied to the development of novel synthetic protocols that are potentially useful against a large panel of viruses and other unmet diseases.
Highlights
This review describes a variety of Diels–Alder reaction (DAR) aimed at obtaining optically conjugate diene reacts with a dienophile to form active intermediates that are useful for the synthesis of antiviral agents exploiting several catalytic conditions
We show some examples in which the catalytic DARs furnish useful optically active intermediates for the synthesis of selected bioactive compounds after a brief introduction of enantioselective DAR
Even if the asymmetric DAR using a chiral auxiliary was developed more than 35 years ago [19] and it is still largely used, there are some intrinsic limitations related to the introduction and the removal of auxiliaries used in equimolar amounts
Summary
The Diels–Alder reaction (DAR) is one of the the construction of six‐membered carbocyclic and in the synthesis of molecules endowing biologica. This review describes a variety of DARs aimed at obtaining optically conjugate diene reacts with a dienophile to form active intermediates that are useful for the synthesis of antiviral agents exploiting several catalytic conditions. DARs are often slow and require either thermal activation or chemical promoters for the in situ generation of reactive dienophiles [5] Even if this kind of reaction proceeds at either ambient or high temperature, the yield can be improved, working at a higher pressure, and the reaction can be accelerated by catalysis. The presence of a selected catalyst can control the stereoselectivity [6], allowing us to obtain enantio-enriched DAR adducts The purpose of this manuscript is to furnish an overview of the chiral catalysts developed in recent years, highlighting the useful role of DAR in the synthesis of antiviral agents, endowing optical activity. An overview of the catalysts used so far to obtain interesting intermediate with high enantiomeric excess, which hopefully could contribute to the treatment of COVID-19, is accomplished
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
