N‑Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Reaction of Cinnamils Leading to the Formation of 2,3,8-Triaryl Vinyl Fulvenes: An Uncommon Transformation

Abstract

In the general context of organocatalysis,1 N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) occupy a prominent position. NHC catalysis2 originated as early as 1958 with Breslow’s demonstration3 that thiazolylidene was involved in the thiazolium catalyzed benzoin condensation.4 However, with the exception of its application in benzoin condensation 5 and the Stetter reaction,6 NHC catalysis received little attention for a long time. A significant change in this situation occurred in 2004, when Glorius7 and Bode8