Organocatalytic Activity of N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes in the Michael Addition of 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds: Application to a Stereoselective Spirocyclization Sequence

Abstract

Abstract An eco‐compatible diversity‐oriented synthesis of α‐spirolactones and α‐spirolactams is described. The overall transformation involves an olefin cross‐metathesis followed by an intramolecular organocatalytic Michael‐induced spirocyclization. Under microwave irradiation, the Hoveyda–Grubbs precatalyst can be iteratively used as the source of both the metathesis ruthenium‐based catalyst, and the spirocyclization N‐heterocyclic carbene catalyst.