Enantioselective cyclopropanation of enals by oxidative N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis

Abstract

Carbene catalysed redox activation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes is applied for generation of α,β-unsaturated acyl azoliums which undergo cyclopropanation upon reaction with a sulfur ylide and an alcohol to give the corresponding cyclopropanecarboxylic acid esters. With chiral carbenes good to excellent diastereo and enantioselectivities are obtained.