The asymmetric synthesis of bicyclic highly substituted tetrahydropyrans is described. The reaction is catalyzed by unnatural γ-dipeptides based on densely substituted L-and Dproline derivatives. This organocatalytic one-pot reaction takes place among a ketone, a nitroalkene, and an aldehyde to yield an octahydro-2H-chromene scaffold. Monomeric species, from which the corresponding γ-dipeptides are synthesized, cannot catalyze the reaction, thus confirming the emergent nature of the catalytic behavior of these dimeric species. Note pubs.acs.org/joc
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