Intermolecular [3+2] MIRC reactions with alkynoates. Asymmetric Michael addition leading to a nonracemic cyclopentene-annulated α,β-butenolide

Synthesis, structure and pyrolysis of stabilised phosphonium ylides containing saturated oxygen heterocycles

Pyrolysis of the stable crystalline ylides gives O-heterocyclic alkynes and other, carbene-derived products.

Efficient desymmetrization of "pseudo"-C2-symmetric substrates: illustration in the synthesis of a disubstituted butenolide from arabitol

A short synthesis of the homochiral disubstituted butenolide 1 is described in four steps from arabitol. The key steps are the selective kinetic protection of arabitol and the cyclization of 11 to form the butenolide ring. This last transformation represents a rare example of a fully stereoselective cyclitive desymmetrization process of a "pseudo"-C2-symmetric substrate.