A highly efficient asymmetric cascade reaction between keto esters and alkynyl alcohols and amides is reported. The success of the reaction was attributed to the combination of chiral Lewis acid N,N'-dioxide nickel(II) catalysis with achiral π-acid gold(I) catalysis working as an asymmetric relay catalytic system. The corresponding spiroketals and spiroaminals were synthesized in up to 99 % yield, 19:1 d.r., and more than 99 % ee under mild reaction conditions. Control experiments suggest that the N,N'-dioxide ligand was essential for the formation of the spiro products.

An efficient asymmetric Mannich-type reaction between α-tetralone-derived β-keto esters/amides and 1,3,5-triaryl-1,3,5-triazinanes was realized catalyzed by chiral N,N'–dioxide-Ni(ii)/Mg(ii) complexes.

A highly enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides with 3-arylidene-oxindoles was realized by a chiral N,N'-dioxide-nickel(II) complex catalyst under mild reaction conditions. A series of spiro-isoxazoline-oxindole derivatives were obtained in moderate yields (up to 65%) with good regioselectivities (up to 99:1), excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee), and exclusive diastereoselectivity as well.

We demonstrated an asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine betaines with alkylidene malonates by using a chiral N,N'-dioxide-Ni(II) complex as a catalyst. Both aromatic- and aliphatic-substituted alkylidene malonates were found to be suitable for the reaction. A range of trans-pyrazolone derivatives was exclusively obtained with excellent yields (up to 99% yield) and good enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee) under mild reaction conditions. The reaction could be carried out on a gram scale with the good results being maintained. Control experiments were performed to elucidate the specific diastereoselectivity of the reaction. The formation of single trans isomers was dominated by secondary orbital interactions between the ester groups of the dipolarophile and the azomethine imine. On the basis of the experimental results and previous reports, a possible catalytic model was assumed.

A catalytic asymmetric dearomatization of 2-naphthols with azodicarboxylates has been accomplished by using a N,N'-dioxide-scandium(III) complex as a chiral catalyst. A number of optically active β-naphthalenone compounds with a nitrogen-containing quaternary carbon stereocenter were obtained in up to 99 % yield and up to 99 % ee under mild reaction conditions. The reaction could be scaled up to a gram-scale with the yield and ee maintained. Based on these experiments and on previous reports, a possible transition state was proposed.