Enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of nitrones with unsaturated aldehydes promoted by a recyclable tetraarylphosphonium supported imidazolidinone catalyst

•The supported imidazolidinone was used to catalyze the 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions.•The products were obtained in good yields with excellent d.r. and ee.•Catalyst could be recycled for at least four times without loss of its activity.

The tetraarylphosphonium supported chiral imidazolidinone catalyzes the enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of nitrones and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to provide isoxazolidine aldehydes in good yields with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Most importantly, the tetraarylphosphonium supported imidazolidinone catalyst can be readily recovered and recycled for further transformations at least four cycles without observing significant decrease in yield and stereoselectivity.

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