Atroposelective synthesis of tetra-ortho-substituted biaryls by catalyst-controlled non-canonical polyketide cyclizations

The cyclization of poly-β-carbonyl-substrates controlled by polyketide synthases intricately governs the biosynthesis of a wide range of aromatic polyketides. Analogous small-molecule-catalysed processes would conceivably induce selective cyclizations of non-canonical polycarbonyl substrates to provide products distinct from natural polyketides. Here, we report a secondary amine-catalysed twofold cyclization of non-canonical hexacarbonyl substrates, furnishing enantioenriched tetra-ortho-substituted binaphthalenes. The substrates were prepared by a fourfold ozonolysis of dicinnamyl biindenes and converted under catalyst control with high atroposelectivity. Privileged catalysts, helicenes and ligands are readily accessible from the binaphthalene products stemming from the non-canonical polyketide cyclizations. Enantioselective synthesis of atropisomeric biaryls is highly desirable due to the utility of these compounds as ligands and catalysts. Now, an organocatalytic polyketide cyclization is shown to convert poly-β-carbonyl compounds into binaphthalene derivatives in good enantioselectivities.