The reaction of cyclopentadiene with various bidentate dienophiles in
the presence of 4-10 mol% of copper(II)-bis(oxazoline) complexes affor
ded excellent endo/exo selectivity as well as endo enantioselectivity
(95-99% ee) and isolated yields. On the other hand, Diels-Alder reacti
on with Mg(II)-complexes afforded a modest (61% ee) reversal in enanti
oselectivity. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd