Nucleophilic heterocyclic carbene catalyzed annulation of enals to chalcones in methanol: A stereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized cyclopentanes

Abstract

Homoenolates generated from enals by nucleophilic heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis undergo annulation with chalcones in methanol to afford methyl beta-hydroxycyclopentanecarboxylates, stereoselectively. Construction of four contiguous stereocenters in a stereoselective manner is noteworthy.