The imidazolidinone derivatives (
1,
2) are asymmetric organocatalysts developed by MacMillan
et al. To date, various types of asymmetric reactions using
1 and
2 have been reported, such as Mukaiyama-Michael addition, epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, 1,3-addition of aldehydes, and the Diels-Alder reaction. The desired products are generated in high yields and selectivities in all cases. These reactions are often utilized in the total syntheses of natural products to construct complex condensed-ring structures such as in spinosyn. Thus,
1 and
2 are powerful tools and their use in new asymmetric reactions is anticipated.