N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Umpolung of β,γ-Unsaturated 1,2-Diketones

Org Lett. 2018 Jan 5;20(1):64-67. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.7b03358. Epub 2017 Dec 21.

Abstract

The umpolung of β,γ-unsaturated diketones through N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis is described, which allows access to a variety of highly functionalized bicyclic cyclohexene-β-lactones and 1,3,4-triaryl benzenes. An unprecedented reaction pattern involving the catalytic formation of nucleophilic O-acylated homoenolate intermediate is proposed. A diverse set of transformations on the product further showed the synthetic potential of this protocol.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't