N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Three-Component Domino Reaction of Alkynyl Aldehydes with Oxindoles

N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed annulation of cyclic β-enamino esters with enals: access to functionalized indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidines

A novel synthetic approach to functionalized indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidines is developed via an N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed annulation of cyclic β-enamino esters with enals.

NHC-catalyzed activation of α,β-unsaturated N-acyltriazoles: an easy access to dihydropyranones

Employing the NHC-catalyzed activation of α,β-unsaturated N-acyltriazoles an efficient enantioselective synthesis of dihydropyranones via a formal [3+3] cycloaddition with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds is described.

Highly stereoselective synthesis of functionalized pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinolines via N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed cascade sequence

An N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed stereoselective Michael-Mannich-lactamization cascade reaction of tosyl-protected o-amino aromatic aldimines and 2-bromoenals for the construction of functionalized pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinolines with three consecutive stereocenters was achieved in good yields with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.

A cooperative N-heterocyclic carbene/chiral phosphate catalysis system for allenolate annulations

The highly enantioselective NHC-catalyzed [3+2] annulation reaction with α,β-alkynals and α-ketoesters has been developed. A new mode of cooperative catalysis involving the combination of a chiral Brønsted acid and a C1-symmetric biaryl saturated-imidazolium precatalyst was required to generate the desired γ-crotonolactones in high yields and levels of enantioselectivity.

Cooperative N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–Lewis acid-mediated regioselective umpolung formal [3 + 2] annulations of alkynyl aldehydes with isatins

A novel synthesis of spirooxindoles has been developed by cooperative NHC–Lewis acid-mediated formal [3 + 2] annulations of alkynyl aldehydes with isatins.

N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed stereoselective cascade reaction: synthesis of functionalized tetrahydroquinolines

The first N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed stereoselective aza-Michael-Michael-lactonization cascade reaction of 2'-aminophenylenones and 2-bromoenals for the construction of chiral functionalized tetrahydroquinolines with three consecutive stereogenic centers has been achieved in high yields (up to 98%) with excellent diastereo- (>25:1) and enantioselectivities (up to 98.7% ee).

N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed Ireland-Coates Claisen rearrangement: synthesis of functionalized β-lactones

The N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed Claisen rearrangement of hybrid Ireland-Coates structures has been achieved, allowing the stereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized β-lactones. The reaction proceeds with high diastereoselectivity (>20:1) and affords a diverse range of β-lactone fused cyclopentanes. Mechanistic studies are detailed.