Scandium(III)-zeolites as new heterogeneous catalysts for imino-Diels-Alder reactions.

This study demonstrates the first zeolite-catalyzed synthesis of piperidine derivatives, including peptidomimetics and indoloquinolizidine alkaloids. The approach developed utilizes a highly effective one-pot reaction cascade, through imine formation and imino-Diels-Alder reactions, promoted by scandium-loaded zeolites as a heterogeneous catalyst. The methodology described benefits from very low catalyst loadings (≤5 mol % of Sc(III) ), commercially and readily available starting materials, and mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, the Sc(III) -zeolite catalyst can be readily reused more than 10 times without any loss in efficiency.