Screening of Chiral Diels-Alder Catalysts by Mass Spectrometric Monitoring of the Retro Reaction

Rapid catalyst screening for enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions was accomplished by mass spectrometric monitoring of reaction intermediates of the retro-Diels-Alder reaction. Copper catalysts as well as metal-free organocatalysts were tested. Furthermore, a protocol for simultaneous screening of catalyst mixtures was developed, offering new possibilities for high-throughput catalyst development.