Desymmetrization of Prochiral N-Pyrazolyl Maleimides via Organocatalyzed Asymmetric Michael Addition with Pyrazolones: Construction of Tri-N-Heterocyclic Scaffolds Bearing Both Central and Axial Chirality

Abstract

The desymmetrization of N-pyrazolyl maleimides was realized through an asymmetric Michael addition by using pyrazolones under mild conditions, leading to the formation of a tri-N-heterocyclic pyrazole–succinimide–pyrazolone assembly in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield, up to 99% ee). The use of a quinine-derived thiourea catalyst was essential for achieving stereocontrol of the vicinal quaternary–tertiary stereocenters together with the C–N chiral axis. Salient features of this protocol included a broad substrate scope, atom economy, mild conditions and simple operation. Moreover, a gram-scale experiment and derivatization of the product further illustrated the practicability and potential application value of this methodology.

1. Introduction

As a prominent stereochemical feature, axial chirality is frequently seen in natural products [1,2], drugs [3,4,5], biologically active molecules [6,7,8] and has also found wide applications in asymmetric catalysis as chiral ligands [9,10,11] or organocatalysts [12]. Among numerous axially chiral structures, biaryl compounds having a rotationally hindered C–C axis have been well explored in the past decades (Scheme 1A) [9,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20]. In comparison, the asymmetric construction of axially biaryl skeletons bearing a C–N axis has been relatively underdeveloped due to their higher degree of rotational freedom and lower conformational stability (Scheme 1B) [21,22,23,24,25,26]. However, until now, axially chiral bi-heteroaryl scaffolds based on a C–N bond linkage has rarely been explored. Moreover, the study of axially chiral five-membered bi-N-heterocycle skeletons has not previously been reported, which is probably because of the smaller bond angle leading to poorer stability when compared to six-membered aryl or heteroaryl scaffolds. Therefore, developing an efficient approach to the synthesis of five-membered bi-heterocyclic scaffolds bearing axial chirality is meaningful and desirable (Scheme 1C).

Pyrazoles and pyrazolones are among the important five-membered N-heterocycles that can be found in numerous bioactive molecules and drugs, possessing unique biological and pharmacological activities (Scheme 2a) [27,28,29]. For example, edaravone (1) is a neuroprotective agent [30], and aminopyrine (2) and antipyrine (3) are used to treat migraine headaches [31]. In addition, some pyrazole–lactim derivatives are also considered as important structural motifs of bioactive molecules and have been widely explored in many applications, such as a nervous system drug molecule (4) [32], antidiabetic agent (5) [33] and immunologically active compound (6) [34]. Considering the significance of axially chiral scaffolds and the distinctive biological activities of pyrazolone and pyrazole skeletons mentioned above, we envisaged the development of a novel synthetic strategy to construct axially chiral C–N pyrazole–lactim scaffolds containing a pyrazolone motif.

Since the first report on the C–N axially chiral framework of N-phenylpyrrole by Adams in 1931 [35], the construction of novel axially chiral N-aryl heterocyclic molecules was reported successively, giving a series of N-aryl lactam, pyrrole, indole or imide heterocyclic skeletons [36]. Overall, among the reported synthetic strategies, the desymmetrization reaction, starting from simple and easily available prochiral substrates, was regarded as a valuable and efficient approach, which further constructed multiple chiral centers at the reaction site and the prochiral center at the same time. In this regard, Bencivenni’s group reported the first construction of enantiomerically enriched atropisomeric succinimides via an organocatalytic asymmetric vinylogous Michael addition reaction of N-arylmaleimides in 2014 (Scheme 2b) [37]. Subsequently, Bencivenni and co-workers disclosed a novel desymmetrization strategy to construct axially chiral succinimides bearing a C–N axis and contiguous stereocenters by a formal Diels–Alder desymmetrization reaction (Scheme 2b) [38]. In 2021, Biju’s group reported an atroposelective synthesis of C–N axially chiral N-aryl succinimides based on the N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed Stetter-aldol-oxidation cascade process (Scheme 2b) [39]. More recently, following a related strategy, Liao’s group successfully achieved the desymmetrization reaction of prochiral N-aryl maleimide by silver-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition (Scheme 2b) [40]. Inspired by the above methods and based on our continuous interest in pyrazole and pyrazolone skeletons, we herein report an enantioselective desymmetrization of a new prochiral N-pyrazolyl maleimide through an asymmetric Michael addition reaction with pyrazolones to construct a tri-N-heterocyclic pyrazole–succinimide–pyrazolone assembly bearing vicinal quaternary–tertiary stereocenters together with a C–N chiral axis (Scheme 2c).

Scheme 2. Previous strategies to achieve axially chiral scaffolds via desymmetrization and our strategy [37,38,39,40].

Scheme 2. Previous strategies to achieve axially chiral scaffolds via desymmetrization and our strategy [37,38,39,40].

2. Results and Discussion

2.1. Optimization of the Reaction Conditions

Initially, pyrazolone 1a and prochiral N-pyrazolyl maleimide 2a were chosen as the model substrates using DABCO as the catalyst to investigate the feasibility of the reaction. To our delight, the desired axially chiral product 3aa was smoothly obtained in a 99% yield with 1:1 dr in DCM at 25 °C after 0.5 h (

Table 1. Optimization of reaction conditions.

Entry a	Cat.	Solvent	t [h]	T [°C]	Yield (%) b	Dr c	Ee [%] d
1	DBACO	DCM	0.5	25	99	1:1	-
2	C1	DCM	0.3	25	91	1:1	40
3	C2	DCM	9.5	25	98	1:1	14
4	C3	DCM	4	25	98	1:1	49
5	C4	DCM	0.5	25	99	1:1	81
6	C5	DCM	4	25	99	1:1	0
7	C6	DCM	2.5	25	85	1:1	80
8	C7	DCM	6	25	77	1:1	13
9	C8	DCM	24	25	48	1:1	21
10	C9	DCM	2.5	25	99	1:1	80
11	C10	DCM	3	25	99	1:1	91
12	C10	toluene	0.5	25	99	1:1	94
13	C10	1,4-dioxane	18	25	99	1:1	91
14	C10	DCE	4.5	25	99	1:1	89
15	C10	CCl4	18	25	99	1:1	92
16	C10	CHCl3	18	25	99	1:1	91
17 e	C10	toluene	1	25	99	1:1	99
18	C10	toluene	2	0	98	1:1	99
19	C10	toluene	3.5	−10	96	1:1	99

^a The reaction was conducted with 1a (0.12 mmol), 2a (0.1 mmol) and Cat. (10 mol%) in solvent (1.0 mL). ^b Isolated yield. ^c Determined by ¹H NMR of the crude mixture. ^d Detected by chiral HPLC analysis for both diastereomers. ^e toluene (2.0 mL) was used.

, entry 1). Encouraged by this result, an asymmetric version of this reaction was carried out by using the series of chiral catalysts C1–C10 derived from cinchona alkaloids to realize atroposelective construction of the optically active product 3aa (Table 1, entries 2–11). When using the quinine catalyst C1, the product 3aa was obtained in a 91% yield but only with 40% ee (entry 2). We then tested the cinchona alkaloid catalysts C2 and C3, which produced product 3aa in a 98% yield and 14% ee (entry 3) and 49% ee (entry 4), respectively. Next, we explored the efficacy of various cinchona alkaloid derivatives functionalized with a squaramide or N-Boc-protected substituent (entries 5–7). To our delight, the quinine-derived squaramide catalyst C4 could increase not only the enantioselectivity to 81% ee but also the reactivity of the reaction, furnishing 3aa in a 99% yield (entry 5). Unfortunately, when the quinine-derived squaramide catalyst C5 was employed, the product 3aa was formed in high yield, but no enantioselectivity was obtained in this reaction (entry 6). Moreover, with the quinine-derived N-Boc-protected catalyst C6, no improvement was observed in terms of the enantioselectivity and the yield of 3aa dropped to 85% (entry 7). When using sulfonamide C7 and quaternary ammonium salt C8, the target product 3aa was generated only in moderate yields with poor enantioselectivities (entries 8–9). Subsequently, we used quinine-derived thiourea catalysts C9 and C10 to perform this reaction (entries 10–11), and to our surprise, the catalyst C10 could increase the enantioselectivity of product 3aa to 91% ee (entry 11). In order to further enhance the enantioselectivity of the reaction, the solvent (entries 12–16) effect was then examined and the results revealed that toluene was optimal with regard to both the yield and enantioselectivity, and 99% yield and 94% ee were observed (entry 12). Finally, the concentration and temperature were investigated (entries 17–19), and the best condition was confirmed with 10 mol% of C10 in 2 mL of toluene at 25 °C, affording the product 3aa in a 99% yield with 1:1 dr and 99% ee (entry 17).

2.2. Substrate Scope of Pyrazolones 1

With the optimized reaction conditions in hand, we next explored the scope of pyrazolone 1 and the results were shown in Scheme 3. The results showed that these reactants were well tolerated, and most reactions could be accomplished within 4 h to afford the axially chiral product 3 in good yield (up to 99% yield) with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee). First, pyrazolone substrates bearing different aryl groups (R¹) at the C-3 position of the pyrazolone unit were examined. When a methyl group was introduced into the ortho, meta and para positions of the phenyl substituents at the pyrazolone unit, the product 3ba–3da could be obtained in a 99% yield with 1:1 dr and high enantioselectivities (98–99% ee). However, when R¹ was a naphthalene substituent, the yield of the target compound 3ea was only 79% due to the influence of steric hindrance. In addition, when the substituted phenyl group was replaced by a thiophene substituent, product 3fa was formed in 99% yield with 1:1 dr and 99% ee. To our delight, methyl proved to be a suitable substituent leading to the target product 3ga in a 97% yield with 1:1 dr and excellent enantioselectivity (99% ee). To further expand the reaction scope of the pyrazolone unit, additional substituent groups (R²) were also explored. A series of substituents on the ortho, meta and para positions of the benzene ring were well tolerated, such as those bearing halides (3ha, 3ia), NO₂ (3ja), methyl (3ka, 3la) and methoxyl (3ma) in high yields (95–99%) with 1:1 dr and excellent enantioselectivities (86–99% ee). When the benzene ring was replaced by 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, the yield and enantioselectivity were maintained, leading to the formation of product 3na in a 97% yield with 1:1 dr and 95% ee. In addition, the naphthalene-containing substrate 1o was also tested to afford the corresponding 3oa in 94% ee, but the yield was reduced to 74%, probably because of the steric hindrance of the bulky substituent.

2.3. Substrate Scope of N-Pyrazolyl Maleimides 2

Subsequently, the scope of N-pyrazolyl maleimide 2 reacting with pyrazolone 1a was examined under the optimized reaction conditions. It is noteworthy that good yields and excellent enantioselectivitives were achieved for most cases (Scheme 4). Surprisingly, when the tert-butyl group was replaced by isopropyl (2b), phenyl (2c) and cyclohexyl (2e), the corresponding products 3ab–3ae were smoothly afforded in high yields (96–99%) with excellent stereoselectivities (>20:1 dr, >96% ee for all cases). Moreover, benzene rings bearing either electron-withdrawing or electron-donating groups at the pyrazole–maleimide C-3 positions were also examined, and the results disclosed that the fluoro, chloro, bromo, methyl, trifluoromethyl and methoxyl substituent groups were all amenable, producing the corresponding products (3af–3ak) in high yields (93–96%) with 1:1 dr and excellent enantioselectivities (96–99% ee).

2.4. Gram-Scale Reaction and Transformation of Products

To demonstrate the scalability of this protocol, we conducted a gram-scale reaction of pyrazolone 1i with pyrazolyl–maleimide 2a under the standard reaction conditions, and the product 3ia was successfully obtained in a 91% yield with 1:1 dr and 96% ee (Scheme 5a). Subsequently, the selective bromination of compound 3ia in the presence of NBS proceeded smoothly, producing the product 4 in a 58% yield, >20:1 dr and 96% ee. The excellent diastereoselective results revealed that the bromination at the C-4 position of the pyrazole ring played an important role in controlling the stereoselectivity of the reaction. The N-1 and C-4 positions of the pyrazole ring were substituted with tert-butyl and bromine, respectively, and their large steric hindrance effect successfully achieved good stereoselective control of the C–N axis (Scheme 5b). In order to further prove the existence of the C–N axis in the target products, a Michael reaction of 4-nonsubstituted pyrazolone 5 and pyrazolyl–maleimide 2a was performed under similar reaction conditions, followed by esterification using acetic anhydride to produce the compound 6 in a 60% yield with 6:1 dr. This diastereomeric ratio indicated that the product 6 contained two chiral elements, namely center chirality and axial chirality (Scheme 5c).

2.5. Plausible Transition State for the Enantioselective Desymmetrization

On the basis of the reaction results and previous similar reports [37,38,41,42], a plausible reaction transition state for the desymmetrization was proposed in Scheme 6. The transition state was made up of a ternary complex in which catalyst C10 promoted the formation of a reactive enolate and at the same time anchored the maleimide by means of hydrogen bonds with the thiourea functional group. In addition, there may have existed a π–π interaction between the phenyl of pyrazolone and the naphthalene ring of catalyst C10 that played an important role in the control of the enantioselectivity of the target product. Subsequently, succinimides with two adjacent stereocenters were generated via an asymmetric Michael reaction, which further obtained the C–N axially chiral pyrazolyl–succinimide 3.

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. General Information

Unless otherwise noted, the materials were purchased from commercial suppliers and used without further purification. Column chromatography was performed on silica gel (200~300 mesh). Enantiomeric excesses (ee) were determined by HPLC (Agilent, Palo Alto, CA, USA) using the corresponding commercial chiral columns as stated at 25 °C with a UV detector at 254 nm. Optical rotations (JiaHang Instruments, Shanghai, China) were reported as follows: ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{\mathrm{T}}$ (c g/100 mL, solvent). All ¹H NMR and ¹⁹F NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker Avance II 400 MHz (Bruker, Karlsruhe, Germany) and Bruker Avance III 600 MHz (Bruker, Karlsruhe, Germany), respectively; (Supplementary Materials) ¹³C NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker Avance II 101 MHz or Bruker Avance III 151 MHz with chemical shifts reported as ppm (in CDCl₃, TMS as an internal standard). Data for ¹H NMR were recorded as follows: chemical shift (δ, ppm), multiplicity (s = singlet, d = doublet, t = triplet, m = multiplet, br = broad singlet, dd = double doublet, coupling constants in Hz and integration). HRMS (ESI) was obtained with an HRMS/MS instrument (LTQ Orbitrap XL TM, Agilent, Palo Alto, CA, USA). The absolute configuration of 4 was assigned by the X-ray analysis.

3.2. Procedure for the Synthesis of Compounds 2

The compound 5-Aminopyrazole was prepared according to the literature [43]. The maleic anhydride (7.5 mmol) and 5-aminopyrazole (5 mmol) were dissolved in 10 mL CHCl₃, stirred for 10 h and the solid (maleimide acid) precipitated from the reaction mixture was filtered. Maleimide acid was dissolved in 20 mL acetic anhydride and 200 mg sodium acetate was added. The mixture was heated at 85 °C and stirred for 4 h. The reaction was cooled and quenched with water, then the mixture was filtered, quenched with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was separated, washed with water and dried over Na₂SO₄. The product was purified by silica gel column chromatography with a mixture of petroleum ether and ethyl acetate (10:1) as eluent. The target compound 2 (0.96 g, 65 %) was obtained as a solid.

1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (2a)

This compound was prepared according to the procedure within 15 h as a white solid (960 mg, 65% yield, Petroleum ether/EtOAc = 10/1 as the eluent), mp 154.1–154.9 °C. ¹H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.80–7.75 (m, 2H), 7.38 (dd, J = 7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.31–7.27 (m, 1H), 6.92 (d, J = 3.4 Hz, 2H), 6.47 (s, 1H), 1.59 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 169.10, 148.85, 135.29, 133.38, 128.54, 127.99, 127.71, 125.45, 104.50, 61.24, 29.90. HRMS (m/z): Calcd for C₁₇H₁₈N₃O₂, [M + H]⁺, 296.1394, found: 296.1392.

1-(1-isopropyl-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (2b)

This compound was prepared according to the procedure within 15 h as a white solid (300 mg, 60% yield, Petroleum ether/EtOAc = 10/1 as the eluent), mp 115.1–115.9 °C. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.84–7.76 (m, 2H), 7.38 (dd, J = 7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.33–7.26 (m, 1H), 6.90 (d, J = 1.8 Hz, 2H), 6.48 (s, 1H), 4.14 (h, J = 6.6 Hz, 1H), 1.50 (d, J = 6.6 Hz, 6H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 168.48, 150.58, 135.04, 133.47, 128.57, 127.78, 125.56, 101.61, 50.35, 22.63. HRMS (m/z): Calcd for C₁₆H₁₆N₃O₂, [M + H]⁺, 282.1237, found: 282.1240.

1-(1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (2c)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 15 h as a white solid (200 mg, 40% yield, Petroleum ether/EtOAc = 10/1 as the eluent), mp 108.1–108.9 °C. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.90–7.83 (m, 2H), 7.46–7.34 (m, 8H), 6.81 (s, 2H), 6.76 (s, 1H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 168.11, 152.02, 138.22, 134.94, 132.60, 129.54, 129.38, 128.69, 128.65, 128.36, 125.76, 124.51, 104.10. HRMS (m/z): Calcd for C₁₉H₁₄N₃O₂, [M + H]⁺, 316.1081, found: 316.1080.

1-(1-cyclohexyl-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (2d)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 15 h as a white solid (400 mg, 50% yield, Petroleum ether/EtOAc = 10/1 as the eluent), mp 105.1–105.9 °C. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.79 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 2H), 7.38 (t, J = 7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.30 (d, J = 7.3 Hz, 1H), 6.93 (s, 2H), 6.47 (s, 1H), 3.67 (tt, J = 10.9, 4.5 Hz, 1H), 2.16–1.79 (m, 7H), 1.74–1.62 (m, 1H), 1.31 (d, J = 11.7 Hz, 3H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 168.51, 150.45, 135.05, 133.48, 128.54, 127.97, 127.72, 125.57, 101.51, 58.04, 32.91, 25.65, 25.12. HRMS (m/z): Calcd for C₁₉H₂₀N₃O₂, [M + H]⁺, 322.1550, found: 322.1551.

1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-(3-chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (2e)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 15 h as an orange solid (600 mg, 52% yield, Petroleum ether/EtOAc = 10/1 as the eluent), mp 140.1–140.9 °C. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.79 (s, 1H), 7.63 (dt, J = 7.5, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.33–7.25 (m, 2H), 6.94 (d, J = 0.9 Hz, 2H), 6.46 (s, 1H), 1.58 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 168.99, 147.50, 135.32, 135.17, 134.51, 129.81, 128.25, 127.66, 125.46, 123.55, 104.70, 61.52, 29.87. HRMS (m/z): Calcd for C₁₇H₁₇ClN₃O₂, [M + H]⁺, 330.1004, found: 330.0999.

1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (2f)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 15 h as a white solid (400 mg, 53% yield, Petroleum ether/EtOAc = 10/1 as the eluent), mp 146.1–146.9 °C. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 8.03 (d, J = 2.2 Hz, 1H), 7.97–7.93 (m, 1H), 7.56–7.47 (m, 2H), 6.95 (s, 2H), 6.52 (s, 1H), 1.60 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 168.98, 147.46, 135.34, 134.15, 131.08, 130.76, 128.99, 128.57, 128.41, 125.60, 124.25 (d, J = 4.04 Hz), 122.89, 122.21 (d, J = 4.04 Hz), 104.73, 61.62, 29.87. ¹⁹F NMR (565 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: −62.66. HRMS (m/z): Calcd for C₁₈H₁₇F₃N₃O₂, [M + H]⁺, 364.1267, found: 364.1267.

1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-(3-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (2g)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 15 h as a white solid (300 mg, 50% yield, Petroleum ether/EtOAc = 10/1 as the eluent), mp 103.1–103.9 °C. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.35 (s, 2H), 7.31 (s, 1H), 6.91 (s, 2H), 6.84 (s, 1H), 6.45 (s, 1H), 3.85 (s, 3H), 1.58 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 169.10, 159.84, 135.29, 134.77, 129.58, 127.99, 118.11, 113.44, 110.83, 104.69, 61.28, 55.65, 29.89. HRMS (m/z): Calcd for C₁₈H₂₀N₃O₃, [M + H]⁺, 326.1499, found: 326.1498.

1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (2h)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 15 h as a white solid (500 mg, 55% yield, Petroleum ether/EtOAc = 10/1 as the eluent), mp 166.1–166.9 °C. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.77–7.72 (m, 2H), 7.09–7.04 (m, 2H), 6.94 (s, 2H), 6.42 (s, 1H), 1.58 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 169.06, 162.6 (d, J = 246.4 Hz), 148.01, 135.31, 129.63, 129.60, 128.10, 127.15, 127.07, 115.53, 115.32, 104.27, 61.29, 29.88. ¹⁹F NMR (376 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: −114.71. HRMS (m/z): Calcd for C₁₇H₁₇FN₃O₂, [M + H]⁺, 314.1299, found: 314.1298.

1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (2i)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 15 h as an orange solid (500 mg, 55% yield, Petroleum ether/EtOAc = 10/1 as the eluent), mp 155.1–155.9 °C. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.72 (s, 2H), 7.35 (s, 2H), 6.93 (s, 2H), 6.44 (s, 1H), 1.58 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 169.04, 147.76, 135.32, 133.39, 131.91, 128.71, 128.20, 126.70, 104.48, 61.43, 29.87. HRMS (m/z): Calcd for C₁₇H₁₇ClN₃O₂, [M + H]⁺, 330.1004, found: 330.1003.

1-(3-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(tert-butyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (2j)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 15 h as a white solid (400 mg, 58% yield, Petroleum ether/EtOAc = 10/1 as the eluent), mp 164.1–164.9 °C. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.67 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 2H), 7.52 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 2H), 6.97 (s, 2H), 6.47 (s, 1H), 1.60 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 169.02, 147.77, 135.32, 132.35, 131.64, 128.20, 127.00, 121.59, 104.47, 61.45, 29.87. HRMS (m/z): Calcd for C₁₇H₁₇BrN₃O₂, [M + H]⁺, 374.0499, found: 374.0496.

1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-(p-tolyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (2k)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 15 h as a white solid (400 mg, 48% yield, Petroleum ether/EtOAc = 10/1 as the eluent), mp 176.1–176.9 °C. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.65 (s, 2H), 7.17 (s, 2H), 6.91 (s, 2H), 6.42 (s, 1H), 2.36 (s, 3H), 1.55 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 169.14, 148.95, 137.38, 135.28, 130.63, 129.22, 127.85, 125.36, 104.27, 61.12, 29.90. HRMS (m/z): Calcd for C₁₈H₂₀N₃O₂, [M + H]⁺, 310.1550, found: 310.1551.

3.3. Procedure for the Synthesis of Compounds 3

In a reaction tube, pyrazol-5-ones 1 (0.24 mmol), pyrazole-maleimide 2 (0.20 mmol) and catalyst C10 (0.02 mmol) were added into toluene (4 mL). The reaction solution was stirred at 25 °C. After the reaction was complete (monitored by TLC), the crude product was purified by column chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether = 1/10 to 1/3) on silica gel to produce the product 3.

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3aa)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1 h as a white solid (121.8 mg, 98% yield, dr = 1:1). mp 127.1–127.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −33.206 (c 0.52, CH₂Cl₂); ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 8.00 (dq, J = 6.7, 2.6, 1.6 Hz, 4H), 7.69–7.48 (m, 15H), 7.40–7.28 (m, 9H), 7.23–7.16 (m, 2H), 7.12–7.01 (m, 10H), 6.29 (s, 1H), 5.50 (s, 1H), 4.22 (dd, J = 17.6, 7.4 Hz, 2H), 3.99 (dd, J = 9.3, 7.4 Hz, 1H), 3.76 (dd, J = 9.4, 5.5 Hz, 1H), 3.61 (dd, J = 19.5, 13.5 Hz, 2H), 3.50 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H), 3.18 (dd, J = 17.8, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 3.01 (dd, J = 18.6, 9.7 Hz, 1H), 2.78 (s, 1H), 1.53 (s, 9H), 1.38 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 174.89, 173.87, 173.72, 173.43, 173.07, 158.07, 157.37, 148.93, 148.66, 137.00, 136.82, 133.31, 133.24, 132.50, 131.10, 131.02, 130.99, 130.71, 129.42, 129.36, 129.35, 129.17, 128.99, 128.79, 128.71, 128.49, 128.47, 128.44, 128.39, 127.95, 127.79, 127.69, 127.61, 127.00, 126.29, 126.05, 125.40, 125.34, 120.04, 119.89, 103.68, 61.50, 57.13, 44.93, 43.58, 41.24, 40.02, 31.06, 30.04, 29.81, 29.69. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₃₉H₃₆N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 622.2813, found: 622.2806. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 99% (determined by HPLC using chiral IB-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 7/3, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 21.9 min, t_minor = 16.6 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-3-(o-tolyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ba)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1.2 h as a white solid (125.8 mg, 99% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 108.1–108.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −35.030 (c 0.33, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.83 (d, J = 11.5 Hz, 2H), 7.77 (q, J = 3.5 Hz, 2H), 7.69–7.61 (m, 6H), 7.58 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.46–7.41 (m, 2H), 7.41–7.26 (m, 12H), 7.22–7.15 (m, 2H), 7.08 (d, J = 6.9 Hz, 8H), 7.03 (dd, J = 7.8, 1.8 Hz, 2H), 6.29 (s, 1H), 5.51 (s, 1H), 4.31–4.13 (m, 2H), 3.98 (dd, J = 9.3, 7.4 Hz, 1H), 3.75 (dd, J = 9.4, 5.4 Hz, 1H), 3.60 (dd, J = 26.7, 13.5 Hz, 2H), 3.48 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H), 3.18 (dd, J = 17.8, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 2.99 (dd, J = 18.6, 9.7 Hz, 1H), 2.66 (d, J = 58.4 Hz, 1H), 2.43 (s, 6H), 1.38 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 173.89, 173.75, 173.46, 173.08, 158.23, 157.50, 148.90, 148.64, 139.37, 139.09, 137.00, 136.83, 133.39, 133.33, 133.27, 132.55, 131.90, 131.63, 130.98, 130.89, 129.39, 129.26, 128.97, 128.88, 128.81, 128.70, 128.50, 128.46, 128.41, 128.37, 128.17, 127.93, 127.75, 127.68, 127.60, 126.27, 126.03, 125.39, 125.26, 124.66, 123.88, 120.09, 119.94, 103.70, 103.63, 61.50, 57.14, 44.95, 43.55, 41.28, 40.04, 31.10, 30.07, 29.81, 29.70, 21.68, 21.65. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₄₀H₃₈N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 636.2969, found: 636.2972. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 98% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 7/3, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 25.1 min, t_minor = 12.1 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-3-(m-tolyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ca)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1.2 h as a white solid (125.8 mg, 99% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 109.1–109.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −33.491 (c 0.42, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.85 (s, 1H), 7.82 (s, 1H), 7.78 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 7.68 (d, J = 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.67–7.61 (m, 5H), 7.60–7.55 (m, 2H), 7.43 (dd, J = 12.2, 6.9 Hz, 3H), 7.40–7.27 (m, 11H), 7.23–7.16 (m, 2H), 7.09 (d, J = 5.6 Hz, 8H), 7.04 (dd, J = 7.7, 1.9 Hz, 2H), 6.29 (d, J = 1.0 Hz, 1H), 5.50 (s, 1H), 4.31–4.15 (m, 2H), 3.99 (dd, J = 9.3, 7.5 Hz, 1H), 3.75 (dd, J = 9.5, 5.4 Hz, 1H), 3.65 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H), 3.57 (d, J = 13.8 Hz, 1H), 3.49 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H), 3.19 (dd, J = 17.8, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 3.00 (dd, J = 18.6, 9.7 Hz, 1H), 2.66 (d, J = 49.9 Hz, 1H), 2.44 (s, 6H), 1.54 (s, 9H), 1.38 (d, J = 1.0 Hz, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 174.94, 173.90, 173.76, 173.46, 173.11, 173.08, 158.23, 157.51, 148.90, 148.65, 139.37, 139.09, 137.00, 136.82, 133.39, 133.33, 133.26, 132.55, 131.90, 131.63, 130.98, 130.89, 129.39, 129.26, 128.97, 128.88, 128.81, 128.70, 128.50, 128.47, 128.41, 128.37, 128.17, 127.93, 127.75, 127.69, 127.61, 126.28, 126.04, 125.40, 125.27, 124.66, 123.88, 120.09, 119.94, 103.70, 103.63, 61.50, 57.14, 44.95, 43.55, 41.28, 40.04, 31.10, 30.07, 29.81, 29.70, 21.65. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₄₀H₃₈N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 636.2969, found: 636.2974. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 99% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 7/3, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 22.5 min, t_minor = 12.1 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-3-(p-tolyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3da)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1.2 h as a white solid (125.8 mg, 99% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 127.1–127.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −61.572 (c 0.23, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.89 (dd, J = 8.0 Hz, 4H), 7.68–7.56 (m, 9H), 7.39–7.28 (m, 14H), 7.19 (dd, J = 16.7, 8.2 Hz, 2H), 7.09 (d, J = 6.7 Hz, 8H), 7.06–7.01 (m, 2H), 6.28 (s, 1H), 5.48 (s, 1H), 4.20 (d, J = 26.5 Hz, 2H), 3.97 (dd, J = 9.3, 7.4 Hz, 1H), 3.74 (dd, J = 9.7, 5.2 Hz, 1H), 3.61 (dd, J = 27.2, 13.5 Hz, 2H), 3.49 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H), 3.17 (dd, J = 17.8, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 2.99 (dd, J = 18.6, 9.7 Hz, 1H), 2.63 (d, J = 27.3 Hz, 1H), 2.50 (s, 3H), 2.44 (s, 3H), 1.38 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 174.98, 173.84, 173.76, 173.38, 173.08, 173.01, 158.07, 157.37, 148.92, 148.63, 141.58, 141.11, 137.03, 136.86, 133.46, 133.33, 133.26, 132.59, 130.09, 129.89, 129.37, 128.95, 128.80, 128.67, 128.48, 128.45, 128.40, 128.35, 128.32, 128.20, 127.89, 127.71, 127.58, 126.90, 126.21, 125.96, 125.38, 125.36, 120.04, 119.87, 103.68, 103.66, 61.51, 61.48, 57.15, 44.97, 43.50, 41.21, 39.88, 31.12, 30.07, 29.80, 29.67, 21.62, 21.55. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₄₀H₃₈N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 636.2969, found: 636.2979. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 98% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 7/3, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 25.3 min, t_minor = 12.1 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-3-(naphthalen-2-yl)-5-oxo-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ea)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 2.5 h as a white solid (106.1 mg, 79% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 110.1–110.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −46.491 (c 0.79, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 8.42 (d, J = 2.3 Hz, 1H), 8.39 (s, 1H), 8.20–8.12 (m, 3H), 8.00–7.92 (m, 7H), 7.91–7.85 (m, 1H), 7.72–7.61 (m, 9H), 7.61–7.51 (m, 4H), 7.37 (dt, J = 15.5, 7.6 Hz, 5H), 7.32–7.17 (m, 15H), 7.15–7.01 (m, 13H), 6.26 (d, J = 2.0 Hz, 1H), 4.95 (s, 1H), 4.47 (s, 1H), 4.20 (dd, J = 10.1, 5.1 Hz, 1H), 4.11 (t, J = 8.2 Hz, 1H), 3.81 (q, J = 6.2, 5.6 Hz, 2H), 3.66 (dd, J = 13.9, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 3.56 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H), 3.22 (dd, J = 17.6, 9.1 Hz, 1H), 3.00 (dd, J = 18.7, 9.8 Hz, 1H), 2.47 (s, 1H), 1.52 (d, J = 1.2 Hz, 9H), 1.35 (d, J = 2.1 Hz, 9H). ¹³C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 175.41, 173.92, 173.74, 173.51, 173.14, 173.03, 157.91, 157.12, 148.68, 137.00, 136.82, 134.37, 134.28, 133.50, 133.29, 132.95, 132.92, 132.85, 132.56, 129.43, 129.39, 129.29, 129.23, 129.04, 128.77, 128.71, 128.46, 128.43, 128.40, 128.23, 128.15, 128.04, 128.00, 127.97, 127.76, 127.67, 127.60, 127.48, 127.05, 126.56, 126.40, 126.16, 125.38, 125.28, 124.13, 124.04, 120.13, 119.97, 103.66, 103.58, 61.49, 57.31, 45.19, 43.54, 41.45, 40.11, 31.21, 30.12, 29.82, 29.65. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₄₃H₃₈N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 672.2969, found: 672.2976. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 98% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H-AD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 7/3, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.6 mL/min, t_major = 61.0 min, t_minor = 34.0 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-3-(thiophen-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3fa)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1.1 h as a white solid (124.2 mg, 99% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 120.1–120.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −35.474 (c 0.65, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.64 (ddd, J = 19.8, 10.9, 7.0 Hz, 9H), 7.53 (dd, J = 10.3, 6.5 Hz, 3H), 7.39–7.28 (m, 9H), 7.25–7.17 (m, 4H), 7.16–7.00 (m, 11H), 6.33 (s, 1H), 5.80 (s, 1H), 4.09 (d, J = 28.1 Hz, 2H), 4.00–3.94 (m, 1H), 3.77 (dd, J = 9.4, 5.6 Hz, 1H), 3.59–3.51 (m, 2H), 3.47 (d, J = 13.1 Hz, 1H), 3.19 (dd, J = 17.8, 9.3 Hz, 1H), 3.03 (dd, J = 18.5, 9.6 Hz, 1H), 2.79 (s, 1H), 1.57 (s, 9H), 1.38 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 173.69, 173.56, 172.98, 172.69, 172.39, 154.24, 149.01, 148.68, 136.79, 136.61, 134.42, 134.31, 133.30, 133.21, 132.36, 129.63, 129.46, 129.40, 128.96, 128.92, 128.70, 128.50, 128.46, 128.44, 128.24, 127.97, 127.91, 127.78, 127.72, 127.61, 127.39, 126.33, 126.10, 125.39, 125.35, 120.08, 119.96, 103.67, 61.59, 61.51, 45.35, 41.07, 39.72, 31.05, 30.11, 29.83, 29.65. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₃₇H₃₄N₅O₃S, [M + H]⁺, 628.2377, found: 628.2387. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 99% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 8/2, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 32.4 min, t_minor = 21.3 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-3-methyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ga)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1.1 h as a white solid (108.5mg, 97% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 124.1–124.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = 80.357 (c 0.45, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.75–7.70 (m, 2H), 7.66–7.61 (m, 2H), 7.61–7.56 (m, 2H), 7.53–7.48 (m, 2H), 7.38–7.26 (m, 10H), 7.21–7.08 (m, 12H), 6.38 (s, 1H), 6.18 (s, 1H), 4.17 (dd, J = 18.1, 6.8 Hz, 1H), 3.56–3.35 (m, 4H), 3.28 (t, J = 14.2 Hz, 2H), 3.13–3.03 (m, 2H), 3.02–2.96 (m, 1H), 2.28 (s, 3H), 2.26 (s, 3H), 1.58 (s, 7H), 1.38 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 174.51, 174.00, 173.76, 173.29, 172.63, 172.49, 160.48, 159.29, 149.12, 148.67, 137.04, 136.92, 133.30, 133.14, 133.09, 132.60, 129.20, 129.13, 128.93, 128.91, 128.85, 128.74, 128.70, 128.66, 128.61, 128.53, 128.47, 128.02, 127.92, 127.75, 127.69, 127.25, 125.91, 125.70, 125.43, 125.41, 125.12, 119.63, 119.07, 103.61, 103.51, 61.59, 61.52, 59.86, 57.34, 53.71, 44.04, 43.24, 40.46, 39.44, 33.77, 30.78, 29.87, 29.68, 29.61, 15.32, 14.71. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₃₄H₃₄N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 560.2656, found: 560.2659. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 99% (determined by HPLC using chiral IA-H-OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 8/2, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.6 mL/min, t_major = 113.3 min, t_minor = 71.1 min).

(S)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-((R)-4-(2-fluorobenzyl)-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ha)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1.5 h as a white solid (126.6 mg, 99% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 113.1–113.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −42.005 (c 0.89, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.99–7.93 (m, 4H), 7.76–7.71 (m, 2H), 7.67 (ddd, J = 8.1, 3.3, 1.2 Hz, 4H), 7.64–7.55 (m, 4H), 7.55–7.44 (m, 5H), 7.42–7.28 (m, 9H), 7.23–7.03 (m, 6H), 6.92–6.81 (m, 4H), 6.28 (s, 1H), 5.54 (s, 1H), 4.36–4.14 (m, 2H), 4.02 (dd, J = 9.3, 7.4 Hz, 1H), 3.81–3.71 (m, 2H), 3.66 (d, J = 14.2 Hz, 1H), 3.52 (d, J = 13.7 Hz, 1H), 3.18 (dd, J = 17.8, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 2.99 (dd, J = 18.5, 9.7 Hz, 1H), 2.82 (s, 1H), 1.52 (s, 9H), 1.38 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 174.85, 173.83, 173.72, 173.42, 173.01, 172.89, 161.74 (d, J = 8.08 Hz), 160.14, 160.06, 158.39, 157.77, 148.94, 148.63, 137.06, 136.88, 133.29, 133.23, 131.29, 131.26, 131.20, 131.18, 131.02, 130.71, 130.64, 129.88, 129.83, 129.73, 129.67, 129.54, 129.28, 129.22, 129.08, 129.05, 128.93, 128.79, 128.50, 128.47, 128.40, 127.74, 127.69, 127.62, 127.09, 126.89, 126.27, 126.04, 125.39, 125.35, 124.15, 124.12, 124.08, 120.70, 120.60, 120.03, 119.93, 119.84, 119.78, 119.70, 115.69, 115.67, 115.53, 103.71, 61.50, 56.25, 49.45, 45.07, 44.90, 43.50, 33.77, 32.63, 31.04, 30.09, 29.81, 29.75, 29.69, 29.67, 17.67. ¹⁹F NMR (376 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: −113.91, −114.43. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₃₉H₃₅FN₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 640.2718, found: 640.2726. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 94% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 9/1, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 86.7 min, t_minor = 34.5 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-(2-bromobenzyl)-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ia)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 2 h as a white solid (137.1 mg, 98% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 125.1–125.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −7.206 (c 0.68, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.99–7.95 (m, 2H), 7.93–7.89 (m, 2H), 7.87–7.82 (m, 2H), 7.78–7.73 (m, 2H), 7.69–7.65 (m, 2H), 7.63–7.58 (m, 3H), 7.55–7.41 (m, 10H), 7.40–7.35 (m, 3H), 7.34–7.30 (m, 2H), 7.29–7.26 (m, 2H), 7.23–7.19 (m, 2H), 7.07 (ddtd, J = 28.0, 14.7, 7.3, 1.8 Hz, 6H), 6.29 (d, J = 2.9 Hz, 1H), 5.37 (s, 1H), 4.26 (d, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H), 4.21–4.03 (m, 3H), 3.89 (d, J = 14.4 Hz, 1H), 3.77 (q, J = 7.1 Hz, 2H), 3.17 (dd, J = 17.5, 9.0 Hz, 1H), 2.97 (dd, J = 18.6, 9.6 Hz, 1H), 2.72 (s, 1H), 1.53 (s, 9H), 1.33 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 173.73, 173.70, 172.98, 172.93, 172.27, 158.50, 157.85, 148.93, 148.65, 137.16, 137.05, 133.55, 133.37, 133.29, 133.23, 132.93, 131.10, 130.80, 130.74, 130.71, 130.33, 129.95, 129.49, 129.37, 129.25, 129.13, 129.07, 128.92, 128.84, 128.76, 128.69, 128.46, 128.30, 127.76, 127.67, 127.60, 127.56, 127.24, 126.23, 126.04, 125.77, 125.40, 125.33, 119.77, 119.54, 103.65, 103.63, 61.49, 61.47, 56.05, 45.22, 39.18, 37.65, 30.88, 30.09, 29.82, 29.65. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₃₉H₃₅BrN₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 700.1918, found: 700.1926. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 96% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 9/1, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 51.7 min, t_minor = 37.6 min).

(S)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-((R)-4-(2-nitrobenzyl)-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ja)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1.2 h as a white solid (129.3 mg, 97% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 120.1–120.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −42.404 (c 0.44, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.97–7.89 (m, 5H), 7.78–7.72 (m, 3H), 7.68–7.64 (m, 4H), 7.63–7.59 (m, 3H), 7.55 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 3H), 7.50 (dd, J = 5.2, 2.0 Hz, 4H), 7.47–7.41 (m, 2H), 7.40 (s, 1H), 7.39–7.33 (m, 6H), 7.32 (s, 1H), 7.31–7.26 (m, 4H), 7.22 (dd, J = 5.6, 3.2 Hz, 3H), 6.27 (s, 1H), 5.37 (s, 1H), 4.43 (q, J = 14.2 Hz, 2H), 4.18 (d, J = 14.1 Hz, 1H), 4.09 (q, J = 4.4, 3.8 Hz, 2H), 4.06 (s, 1H), 3.73 (s, 1H), 3.24–3.12 (m, 1H), 2.93 (dd, J = 18.6, 9.6 Hz, 1H), 2.61 (s, 1H), 1.52 (s, 9H), 1.31 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 174.87, 173.65, 173.42, 172.82, 172.12, 157.74, 157.28, 149.97, 148.93, 148.64, 136.88, 136.81, 133.27, 133.20, 133.03, 132.65, 132.32, 132.01, 131.27, 131.08, 130.42, 130.20, 129.54, 129.27, 129.09, 128.99, 128.91, 128.81, 128.72, 128.48, 128.44, 128.26, 127.78, 127.69, 127.60, 127.43, 126.69, 126.32, 126.13, 125.46, 125.37, 125.32, 119.61, 119.55, 103.61, 61.52, 61.47, 56.51, 45.05, 35.22, 34.06, 30.89, 30.03, 29.80, 29.62. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₃₉H₃₅N₆O₅, [M + H]⁺, 667.2663, found: 667.2673. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 86% (determined by HPLC using chiral IG-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 7/3, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 55.8 min, t_minor = 22.1 min).

(S)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-((R)-4-(3-methylbenzyl)-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ka)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1 h as a white solid (120.7 mg, 95% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 109.1–109.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −40.141 (c 0.14, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 8.04–7.97 (m, 4H), 7.71 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 4H), 7.66–7.52 (m, 10H), 7.38 (ddt, J = 16.5, 12.1, 7.9 Hz, 9H), 7.26–7.20 (m, 2H), 7.03–6.80 (m, 9H), 6.33 (s, 1H), 5.55 (s, 1H), 4.32–4.12 (m, 2H), 4.02 (dd, J = 9.4, 7.3 Hz, 1H), 3.85–3.75 (m, 1H), 3.60 (dd, J = 13.5, 4.0 Hz, 2H), 3.51 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H), 3.22 (dd, J = 17.8, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 3.05 (dd, J = 18.4, 9.6 Hz, 1H), 2.10 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 6H), 1.56 (s, 9H), 1.42 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 173.90, 173.75, 173.62, 173.24, 158.24, 148.92, 148.64, 138.00, 137.01, 136.87, 133.17, 132.35, 131.15, 130.94, 130.65, 130.10, 129.32, 129.08, 128.95, 128.78, 128.69, 128.62, 128.46, 128.25, 128.20, 127.66, 127.59, 127.02, 126.27, 126.24, 126.02, 120.05, 119.87, 103.67, 61.48, 57.11, 44.90, 41.26, 31.07, 30.04, 29.80, 29.67, 21.16, 21.10. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₄₀H₃₈N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 636.2969, found: 636.2976. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 96% (determined by HPLC using chiral IB-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 4/1, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.6 mL/min, t_major = 51.1 min, t_minor = 41.1 min).

(S)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-((R)-4-(4-methylbenzyl)-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3la)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1.5 h as a white solid (124.5 mg, 98% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 112.1–112.9 °C; [${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −30.363 (c 0.85, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 8.04–7.95 (m, 4H), 7.67 (ddd, J = 8.1, 5.5, 1.2 Hz, 4H), 7.65–7.58 (m, 5H), 7.58– 7.47 (m, 5H), 7.41–7.25 (m, 10H), 7.24–7.16 (m, 2H), 6.97 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 2H), 6.93–6.84 (m, 6H), 6.29 (s, 1H), 5.50 (s, 1H), 4.20 (dd, J = 18.6, 6.7 Hz, 2H), 3.96 (dd, J = 9.3, 7.3 Hz, 1H), 3.74 (dd, J = 9.3, 5.5 Hz, 1H), 3.57 (dd, J = 13.6, 10.3 Hz, 2H), 3.46 (d, J = 13.3 Hz, 1H), 3.16 (dd, J = 17.9, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 2.99 (dd, J = 18.5, 9.7 Hz, 1H), 2.83 (s, 1H), 2.16 (d, J = 2.5 Hz, 6H), 1.37 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 174.84, 173.87, 173.72, 173.55, 173.19, 173.09, 158.20, 157.51, 148.93, 148.65, 137.58, 137.39, 137.09, 136.93, 133.34, 133.27, 131.15, 131.04, 130.94, 130.65, 130.19, 129.40, 129.35, 129.19, 129.12, 129.07, 128.96, 128.82, 128.67, 128.46, 127.66, 127.60, 127.02, 126.23, 125.99, 125.39, 125.34, 120.07, 119.91, 103.67, 61.48, 57.20, 44.95, 43.63, 40.90, 39.63, 31.04, 30.02, 29.80, 29.67, 20.99. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₄₀H₃₈N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 636.2969, found: 636.2976. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 99% (determined by HPLC using chiral ID-H-OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 7/3, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 48.6 min, t_minor = 31.9 min).

(S)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-((R)-4-(4-methoxybenzyl)-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ma)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1.5 h as a white solid (129.0 mg, 99% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 112.1–112.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −29.344 (c 0.78, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 8.04–7.96 (m, 4H), 7.71–7.65 (m, 4H), 7.64–7.58 (m, 5H), 7.58–7.48 (m, 5H), 7.41–7.27 (m, 9H), 7.24–7.17 (m, 2H), 7.04–6.98 (m, 2H), 6.96–6.91 (m, 2H), 6.64–6.57 (m, 4H), 6.29 (s, 1H), 5.51 (s, 1H), 4.20 (dd, J = 18.1, 7.4 Hz, 2H), 3.96 (dd, J = 9.3, 7.3 Hz, 1H), 3.74 (dd, J = 9.0, 5.8 Hz, 1H), 3.63 (d, J = 2.0 Hz, 6H), 3.56 (dd, J = 18.2, 13.7 Hz, 2H), 3.44 (d, J = 13.3 Hz, 1H), 3.16 (dd, J = 17.8, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 3.00 (dd, J = 18.5, 9.6 Hz, 1H), 2.83 (s, 1H), 1.52 (s, 9H), 1.38 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 174.85, 173.91, 173.75, 173.57, 173.22, 173.11, 159.15, 159.02, 158.20, 157.51, 148.92, 148.65, 137.08, 136.91, 133.33, 133.25, 131.15, 131.04, 130.97, 130.67, 130.45, 129.39, 129.15, 128.98, 128.83, 128.70, 128.46, 127.67, 127.60, 127.56, 126.99, 126.24, 126.00, 125.39, 125.34, 125.23, 124.45, 120.02, 119.88, 113.81, 113.76, 103.67, 61.49, 57.30, 55.11, 44.88, 43.59, 40.52, 39.26, 31.04, 30.00, 29.80, 29.68. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₄₀H₃₈N₅O₄, [M + H]⁺, 652.2918, found: 652.2922. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 99% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 9/1, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 74.5 min, t_minor = 51.3 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3na)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 2.5 h as a white solid (146.9 mg, 97% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 112.1–112.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = 1.1617 (c 0.80, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.94 (d, J = 7.4 Hz, 4H), 7.72–7.47 (m, 20H), 7.41–7.30 (m, 10H), 7.23 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2H), 6.32 (s, 1H), 5.58 (s, 1H), 4.23 (s, 2H), 4.11 (t, J = 8.2 Hz, 1H), 3.81 (t, J = 7.3 Hz, 1H), 3.70 (dd, J = 22.0, 13.6 Hz, 2H), 3.60 (d, J = 13.1 Hz, 1H), 3.21 (dd, J = 17.6, 9.1 Hz, 1H), 3.03 (dd, J = 18.6, 9.7 Hz, 1H), 2.78 (s, 1H), 1.56 (s, 9H), 1.35 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 173.53, 173.32, 172.71, 172.68, 172.32, 157.34, 156.70, 148.97, 148.70, 136.49, 136.38, 135.93, 135.13, 133.21, 133.09, 131.96, 131.79, 131.74, 131.57, 131.52, 131.35, 131.29, 130.36 (d, J=14.14 Hz), 129.75, 129.62, 129.42, 129.10, 128.84, 128.63, 128.53, 128.50, 128.29, 127.78, 127.70, 127.13, 126.63, 126.60, 126.44, 125.51, 125.37, 125.30, 123.74, 123.69, 121.93, 121.89, 121.83, 119.66, 119.48, 103.64, 103.59, 61.58, 61.53, 56.82, 44.86, 43.37, 40.35, 39.14, 30.90, 29.81, 29.77, 29.62. ¹⁹F NMR (376 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: −63.14, −63.17. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₄₁H₃₄F₆N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 758.2560, found: 758.2570. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 95% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 9/1, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 41.5 min, t_minor = 24.1 min).

(S)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-((R)-4-(naphthalen-2-ylmethyl)-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3oa)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 4 h as a white solid (99.4 mg, 74% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 116.1–116.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −66.632 (c 0.96, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 8.19 (d, J = 8.3 Hz, 1H), 8.08–8.03 (m, 1H), 7.96–7.93 (m, 2H), 7.92–7.89 (m, 2H), 7.76–7.71 (m, 2H), 7.69–7.56 (m, 8H), 7.52–7.38 (m, 13H), 7.37–7.26 (m, 11H), 7.24–7.14 (m, 9H), 7.13–7.09 (m, 1H), 6.32 (s, 1H), 5.49 (s, 1H), 4.60 (s, 1H), 4.40 (s, 1H), 4.29 (d, J = 15.0 Hz, 1H), 4.17 (dd, J = 15.4, 6.8 Hz, 2H), 4.00–3.86 (m, 2H), 3.29 (dd, J = 17.9, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 3.04 (dd, J = 18.9, 9.9 Hz, 1H), 2.88 (s, 1H), 1.56 (d, J = 2.0 Hz, 9H), 1.34 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 173.91, 173.71, 173.46, 173.02, 158.36, 148.97, 148.62, 136.74, 136.68, 133.82, 133.75, 133.33, 133.25, 131.82, 131.68, 131.31, 131.06, 130.97, 130.60, 129.91, 129.35, 129.06, 128.98, 128.88, 128.79, 128.73, 128.69, 128.54, 128.51, 128.45, 127.90, 127.66, 127.58, 127.04, 126.74, 126.17, 126.04, 125.97, 125.75, 125.70, 125.39, 125.34, 124.92, 124.76, 123.67, 123.50, 120.06, 119.71, 103.67, 103.63, 61.51, 61.47, 56.60, 45.40, 43.90, 36.34, 34.65, 31.09, 30.26, 29.84, 29.65. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₄₃H₃₈N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 672.2969, found: 672.2981. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 94% (determined by HPLC using chiral IB-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 4/1, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 56.4 min, t_minor = 47.9 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-isopropyl-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ab)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1 h as a white solid (120.2 mg, 99% yield, dr > 20:1), mp 105.1–105.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = 9.067 (c 1.15, CH₂Cl2). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 8.04–7.95 (m, 2H), 7.76–7.62 (m, 4H), 7.53 (dt, J = 5.3, 2.7 Hz, 3H), 7.34 (q, J = 7.4 Hz, 4H), 7.27 (d, J = 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.20 (dd, J = 7.4 Hz, 1H), 7.15–7.01 (m, 5H), 6.17 (s, 1H), 3.94 (dd, J = 9.4, 5.7 Hz, 1H), 3.82 (s, 2H), 3.56 (d, J = 13.4 Hz, 1H), 3.16 (dd, J = 18.3, 9.7 Hz, 1H), 1.58 (s, 1H), 1.35 (d, J = 6.6 Hz, 3H), 1.10 (s, 3H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 173.72, 173.51, 172.82, 150.49, 136.88, 133.39, 132.76, 130.98, 130.85, 129.31, 129.21, 128.83, 128.49, 128.40, 128.12, 127.91, 127.68, 127.17, 126.14, 125.51, 119.77, 100.97, 50.25, 44.09, 40.68, 30.51, 22.49, 22.11. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₃₈H₃₄N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 608.2656, found: 608.2666. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 96% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 7/3, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 25.3 min, t_minor = 13.6 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ac)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1 h as a white solid (123.1 mg, 96% yield, dr > 20:1), mp 108.1–108.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = 11.915 (c 1.13, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.98–7.91 (m, 2H), 7.78–7.72 (m, 2H), 7.59–7.48 (m, 5H), 7.43–7.26 (m, 9H), 7.22 (d, J = 11.9 Hz, 2H), 7.12–6.99 (m, 5H), 6.28 (s, 1H), 4.02–3.09 (m, 4H), 2.95 (dd, J = 18.1, 9.4 Hz, 1H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 173.51, 173.01, 172.25, 157.43, 151.85, 137.82, 136.86, 132.51, 131.02, 130.82, 129.78, 129.42, 129.32, 129.25, 128.82, 128.64, 128.35, 128.32, 127.84, 127.19, 126.19, 125.68, 124.19, 120.15, 103.42, 44.16, 40.63, 30.50. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₄₁H₃₂N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 642.2500, found: 642.2507. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 99% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 7/3, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 33.7 min, t_minor = 22.2 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-cyclohexyl-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ad)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1 h as a white solid (124.3 mg, 96% yield, dr > 20:1), mp 112.1–112.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = 10.511 (c 1.05, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.99 (dd, J = 6.6, 3.0 Hz, 2H), 7.71–7.65 (m, 2H), 7.63–7.57 (m, 2H), 7.56–7.49 (m, 3H), 7.33 (t, J = 7.4 Hz, 4H), 7.27 (d, J = 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.18 (dd, J = 7.4 Hz, 1H), 7.09 (q, J = 5.0, 3.3 Hz, 5H), 6.16 (s, 1H), 3.96 (t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H), 3.78 (s, 1H), 3.55 (d, J = 13.3 Hz, 1H), 3.47 (dt, J = 11.3, 6.7 Hz, 1H), 3.17 (dd, J = 18.2, 9.6 Hz, 1H), 1.87 (q, J = 6.6 Hz, 4H), 1.56–0.76 (m, 6H). ¹³C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 173.86, 172.95, 157.77, 150.33, 136.82, 133.41, 130.97, 130.82, 129.36, 129.25, 128.81, 128.51, 128.39, 128.25, 127.95, 127.67, 127.10, 126.24, 125.52, 120.25, 100.94, 57.88, 44.11, 40.89, 32.82, 32.72, 30.52, 25.39, 25.07. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₄₁H₃₈N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 648.2969, found: 648.2978. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 96% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 7/3, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 20.6 min, t_minor = 11.3 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-(3-chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ae)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1.1 h as a white solid (123.2 mg, 94% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 120.1–120.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −17.123 (c 0.22, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 8.03–7.97 (m, 4H), 7.71–7.45 (m, 15H), 7.42–7.27 (m, 5H), 7.24–7.16 (m, 4H), 7.13–7.05 (m, 8H), 7.04–7.00 (m, 2H), 6.28 (s, 1H), 5.45 (s, 1H), 4.23 (d, J = 26.3 Hz, 2H), 4.00 (dd, J = 9.4, 7.4 Hz, 1H), 3.80–3.74 (m, 1H), 3.61 (dd, J = 18.0, 13.5 Hz, 2H), 3.50 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H), 3.19 (dd, J = 17.8, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 3.02 (dd, J = 18.4, 9.7 Hz, 1H), 2.83 (s, 1H), 1.52 (s, 9H), 1.38 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 174.73, 173.82, 173.63, 173.42, 173.01, 158.05, 157.35, 147.57, 147.29, 136.97, 136.79, 135.09, 134.99, 134.44, 133.23, 132.45, 131.07, 131.03, 131.00, 130.73, 129.75, 129.42, 129.34, 129.17, 129.04, 128.99, 128.72, 128.45, 128.39, 127.96, 127.81, 127.62, 127.58, 126.98, 126.39, 126.06, 125.39, 123.47, 123.36, 120.01, 119.87, 103.89, 103.86, 61.78, 61.75, 57.11, 44.94, 43.72, 41.24, 40.01, 31.03, 30.04, 29.78, 29.65. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₃₉H₃₅ClN₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 656.2423, found: 656.2434. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 97% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 8/2, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 36.5 min, t_minor = 19.4 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3af)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1 h as a white solid (128.2 mg, 93% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 118.1–118.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −24.115 (c 0.68, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 8.03–7.97 (m, 4H), 7.92 (s, 1H), 7.86–7.79 (m, 3H), 7.66 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 2H), 7.62 (d, J = 7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.58 (dd, J = 8.3, 3.0 Hz, 4H), 7.51 (dtd, J = 11.6, 8.9, 7.8, 3.9 Hz, 6H), 7.44 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 1H), 7.36 (dt, J = 16.5, 7.8 Hz, 4H), 7.24–7.17 (m, 2H), 7.13–7.06 (m, 8H), 7.03 (d, J = 7.0 Hz, 2H), 6.35 (s, 1H), 5.46 (s, 1H), 4.31–4.15 (m, 2H), 4.00 (dd, J = 9.4, 7.4 Hz, 1H), 3.78 (dd, J = 9.3, 5.4 Hz, 1H), 3.62 (dd, J = 18.9, 13.5 Hz, 2H), 3.51 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H), 3.20 (dd, J = 17.9, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 3.03 (dd, J = 18.5, 9.7 Hz, 1H), 2.83 (s, 1H), 1.54 (s, 10H), 1.39 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 174.72, 173.81, 173.62, 173.43, 173.01, 158.05, 157.32, 147.51, 147.25, 136.97, 136.78, 134.05, 133.97, 133.24, 132.43, 131.06, 131.00, 130.95, 130.74, 130.67, 129.44, 129.33, 129.20, 129.17, 128.98, 128.93, 128.87, 128.72, 128.46, 128.39, 127.97, 127.81, 127.64, 126.97, 126.37, 126.07, 124.19, 122.14, 120.02, 119.85, 103.92, 103.89, 61.88, 61.85, 57.10, 44.96, 43.68, 41.25, 40.00, 31.07, 30.05, 29.78, 29.65. ¹⁹F NMR (376 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: −62.62, −62.70. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₄₀H₃₅F₃N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 690.2687, found: 690.2694. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 96% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 8/2, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 34.9 min, t_minor = 16.9 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-(3-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ag)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1 h as a white solid (125.0 mg, 96% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 114.1–114.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −37.751 (c 0.25, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.98 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 4H), 7.67–7.46 (m, 10H), 7.34 (dt, J = 15.4, 7.7 Hz, 4H), 7.26–7.15 (m, 8H), 7.07 (d, J = 9.5 Hz, 8H), 7.00 (d, J = 7.5 Hz, 2H), 6.85–6.75 (m, 2H), 6.29 (s, 1H), 5.50 (s, 1H), 4.21 (q, J = 7.8, 7.3 Hz, 2H), 3.97 (t, J = 8.3 Hz, 1H), 3.80 (d, J = 21.3 Hz, 7H), 3.58 (dd, J = 13.6, 6.5 Hz, 2H), 3.47 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H), 3.15 (dd, J = 17.8, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 3.00 (dd, J = 18.5, 9.6 Hz, 1H), 1.52 (s, 9H), 1.35 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 174.88, 173.92, 173.79, 173.47, 173.10, 159.83, 159.78, 158.11, 157.40, 148.78, 148.50, 137.01, 136.82, 134.73, 134.63, 133.31, 132.53, 131.09, 131.04, 131.00, 130.73, 129.54, 129.44, 129.37, 129.19, 129.00, 128.85, 128.73, 128.45, 128.38, 127.94, 127.81, 127.60, 126.99, 126.34, 126.07, 120.04, 119.91, 118.07, 118.01, 113.42, 110.77, 103.90, 103.88, 61.55, 57.12, 55.29, 55.25, 44.94, 43.60, 41.23, 40.04, 31.05, 30.03, 29.82, 29.70. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₄₀H₃₈N₅O₄, [M + H]⁺, 652.2918, found: 562.2926. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 97% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 8/2, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 43.0 min, t_minor = 23.3 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ah)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1 h as a white solid (120.2 mg, 94% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 104.1–104.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −24.525 (c 0.58, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.99 (ddt, J = 6.7, 4.2, 1.9 Hz, 4H), 7.67–7.48 (m, 14H), 7.41–7.30 (m, 4H), 7.23– 7.16 (m, 2H), 7.13–6.96 (m, 14H), 6.24 (s, 1H), 5.47 (s, 1H), 4.22 (dd, J = 17.9, 7.2 Hz, 2H), 3.99 (dd, J = 9.3, 7.4 Hz, 1H), 3.81–3.72 (m, 1H), 3.61 (dd, J = 18.5, 13.5 Hz, 2H), 3.49 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H), 3.18 (dd, J = 17.8, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 3.02 (dd, J = 18.4, 9.6 Hz, 1H), 1.52 (s, 9H), 1.37 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 173.86, 173.71, 173.42, 173.09, 173.04, 163.36, 163.32, 161.72, 161.69, 158.05, 157.35, 148.07, 147.79, 136.97, 136.82, 133.22, 132.45, 131.08, 131.01, 130.95, 130.72, 129.55, 129.48, 129.39, 129.34, 129.17, 128.98, 128.89, 128.71, 128.57, 128.44, 128.39, 127.96, 127.81, 127.56, 127.07, 127.01, 126.99, 126.96, 126.28, 126.06, 120.02, 119.88, 115.37 (d, J = 15.15Hz), 103.47, 103.43, 61.55, 57.11, 44.93, 41.24, 40.04, 31.03, 30.04, 29.79, 29.66. ¹⁹F NMR (376 MHz, CDCl3) δ: −114.70, −114.83. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₃₉H₃₅FN₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 640.2718, found: 640.2731. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 97% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 8/2, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 34.2 min, t_minor = 18.0 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ai)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1 h as a white solid (125.8 mg, 96% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 101.1–101.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −29.557 (c 0.77, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 8.07–8.00 (m, 4H), 7.71–7.66 (m, 2H), 7.65–7.52 (m, 12H), 7.43–7.29 (m, 8H), 7.27–7.18 (m, 2H), 7.11 (q, J = 6.8, 5.1 Hz, 8H), 7.09–7.02 (m, 2H), 6.30 (s, 1H), 5.51 (s, 1H), 4.26 (d, J = 25.9 Hz, 2H), 4.02 (dd, J = 9.3, 7.4 Hz, 1H), 3.83–3.75 (m, 1H), 3.65 (dd, J = 21.6, 13.5 Hz, 2H), 3.53 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H), 3.22 (dd, J = 17.8, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 3.05 (dd, J = 18.4, 9.6 Hz, 1H), 2.87 (s, 1H), 1.55 (s, 9H), 1.40 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 174.77, 173.84, 173.66, 173.41, 173.06, 173.03, 158.04, 157.34, 147.84, 147.55, 136.97, 136.82, 133.36, 133.30, 133.21, 132.44, 131.83, 131.76, 131.08, 131.02, 130.94, 130.72, 129.38, 129.33, 129.17, 128.98, 128.71, 128.64, 128.44, 128.39, 127.96, 127.81, 127.55, 126.98, 126.62, 126.57, 126.28, 126.06, 103.66, 103.63, 61.68, 57.10, 44.93, 43.70, 41.24, 40.04, 31.02, 30.04, 29.78, 29.65. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₃₉H₃₅ClN₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 656.2423, found: 656.2433. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 98% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 8/2, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 34.4 min, t_minor = 18.5 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(3-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(tert-butyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3aj)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1 h as a white solid (130.0 mg, 93% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 126.1–126.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −27.602 (c 0.22, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.99 (ddt, J = 6.9, 5.4, 2.5 Hz, 4H), 7.68–7.62 (m, 2H), 7.61–7.49 (m, 10H), 7.48–7.30 (m, 10H), 7.24–7.16 (m, 2H), 7.14–6.99 (m, 10H), 6.27 (s, 1H), 5.49 (s, 1H), 4.23 (dd, J = 18.1, 7.4 Hz, 2H), 3.99 (dd, J = 9.4, 7.4 Hz, 1H), 3.82–3.75 (m, 1H), 3.61 (dd, J = 20.1, 13.5 Hz, 2H), 3.50 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H), 3.19 (dd, J = 17.9, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 3.02 (dd, J = 18.3, 9.6 Hz, 1H), 2.84 (s, 1H), 1.52 (s, 9H), 1.37 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 173.83, 173.65, 173.41, 173.05, 173.02, 158.03, 157.33, 147.85, 147.55, 136.96, 136.81, 133.20, 132.43, 132.27, 132.20, 131.58, 131.07, 131.02, 130.94, 130.72, 129.38, 129.33, 129.17, 128.98, 128.71, 128.68, 128.44, 128.39, 127.96, 127.81, 127.54, 126.97, 126.93, 126.89, 126.28, 126.06, 121.55, 121.49, 120.02, 119.87, 103.66, 103.63, 61.70, 57.10, 44.93, 43.69, 41.24, 40.04, 31.02, 30.04, 29.78, 29.65. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₃₉H₃₅BrN₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 700.1918, found: 700.1924. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 97% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 8/2, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 36.0 min, t_minor = 19.1 min).

(S)-3-((R)-4-benzyl-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-(p-tolyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (3ak)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 1 h as a white solid (120.7 mg, 95% yield, dr = 1:1), mp 125.1–125.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −39.223 (c 0.28, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 8.01–7.92 (m, 4H), 7.67–7.62 (m, 2H), 7.62–7.45 (m, 12H), 7.33 (dt, J = 16.2, 7.9 Hz, 4H), 7.23–7.17 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.09 (m, 5H), 7.06 (d, J = 11.2 Hz, 7H), 6.99 (dd, J = 7.9, 1.8 Hz, 2H), 6.26 (s, 1H), 5.49 (s, 1H), 4.24–4.12 (m, 2H), 3.94 (dd, J = 9.3, 7.3 Hz, 1H), 3.75 (dd, J = 8.9, 5.8 Hz, 1H), 3.57 (d, J = 14.2 Hz, 2H), 3.45 (d, J = 13.2 Hz, 1H), 3.12 (dd, J = 17.8, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 2.98 (dd, J = 18.4, 9.6 Hz, 1H), 2.33 (s, 3H), 2.29 (s, 3H), 1.51 (s, 9H), 1.37 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 174.89, 173.95, 173.82, 173.48, 173.17, 173.12, 158.13, 157.45, 149.05, 148.77, 137.39, 137.32, 137.05, 136.88, 133.35, 132.58, 131.14, 131.03, 130.71, 130.61, 130.53, 129.42, 129.39, 129.21, 129.18, 129.01, 128.78, 128.73, 128.45, 128.42, 128.38, 127.93, 127.81, 127.59, 127.02, 126.31, 126.06, 125.34, 125.29, 120.06, 119.92, 103.47, 61.41, 57.15, 44.95, 43.67, 41.23, 40.06, 31.04, 30.03, 29.83, 29.73, 21.34, 21.30. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₄₀H₃₈N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 636.2969, found: 636.2976. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 99% (determined by HPLC using chiral OD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 8/2, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 31.7 min, t_minor = 16.6 min).

3.4. Procedure for the Synthesis of Compounds 4

(S)-1-(4-bromo-1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-((R)-4-(2-bromobenzyl)-5-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (4)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 96 h as a white solid (106.1mg, 58% yield, dr > 20:1), mp 126.1–126.9 °C; ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{17}$ = −22.000 (c 0.50, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.95 (dd, J = 6.8, 2.9 Hz, 2H), 7.79 (dd, J = 11.0, 7.5 Hz, 4H), 7.49 (dd, J = 6.4, 3.6 Hz, 4H), 7.38 (q, J = 7.6 Hz, 4H), 7.31 (dd, J = 7.3 Hz, 1H), 7.21 (s, 1H), 7.14–6.99 (m, 3H), 4.19–4.02 (m, 2H), 3.92 (d, J = 14.4 Hz, 1H), 3.82 (d, J = 14.6 Hz, 1H), 3.24 (dd, J = 17.2, 8.7 Hz, 1H), 1.30 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 172.93, 172.85, 172.68, 158.49, 145.99, 137.17, 133.37, 132.98, 132.06, 130.84, 130.68, 130.20, 129.46, 129.10, 128.85, 128.38, 128.29, 128.17, 127.58, 127.30, 126.03, 125.46, 119.70, 93.34, 62.45, 56.44, 45.18, 39.06, 30.28, 29.33. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₃₉H₃₄Br₂N₅O₃, [M + H]⁺, 778.1023, found: 778.1022. Enantiomeric excess was determined to be 96% (determined by HPLC using chiral IB-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 9/1, λ = 254 nm, 25 °C, 0.8 mL/min, t_major = 30.3 min, t_minor = 26.8 min).

3.5. Procedure for the Synthesis of Compounds 6

4-(1-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-3-yl)-1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl acetate (6)

This was prepared according to the procedure within 18 h as a white solid (68.8 mg, 60% yield, dr = 6:1), mp 126.1–126.9 °C. ¹H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ: 7.77 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 2H), 7.69 (d, J = 7.3 Hz, 2H), 7.59 (d, J = 7.9 Hz, 2H), 7.50 (q, J = 8.1 Hz, 5H), 7.39 (dd, J = 7.5 Hz, 4H), 6.33 (s, 1H), 4.21 (dd, J = 10.2, 5.2 Hz, 1H), 3.25 (dd, J = 18.8, 10.1 Hz, 1H), 3.04 (dd, J = 18.7, 5.3 Hz, 1H), 2.26 (s, 3H), 1.60 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 175.53, 174.64, 167.28, 151.32, 149.07, 141.74, 137.56, 133.39, 132.65, 129.39, 128.96, 128.94, 128.79, 128.55, 128.22, 127.74, 125.47, 123.50, 104.06, 103.44, 61.51, 36.50, 29.92, 20.56. HRMS (ESI) m/z Calcd for C₃₄H₃₂N₅O₄, [M + H]⁺, 574.2449, found: 574.2455.

4. Conclusions

In conclusion, we developed a novel organocatalyzed pathway to realize the desymmetrization of N-pyrazolyl maleimides via a Michael addition reaction, achieving various pyrazolyl–succinimides in high enantioselectivities. It is noteworthy that the novel asymmetric synthesis strategy worked well with a broad substrate scope and excellent atom economy. In addition, the bifunctional quinine-derived thiourea catalyst was fundamental for the desymmetrization, which produced the chiral axis and the adjacent stereocenters simultaneously. Moreover, further exploration of novel synthesis strategies to construct C–N five-membered bi-heterocyclic skeletons are underway in our laboratory.