Organocatalytic Michael cycloisomerization of bis(enones): the intramolecular Rauhut-Currier reaction

Abstract

The utilization of enones as latent enolates enables regioselective enolate formation from chemically robust presursors. In this communication, we report a catalytic Michael cycloisomerization of bis(enones) under Morita-Baylis-Hillman conditions. Upon exposure to 10 mol % tributylphosphine, bis(enone) substrates afford both five- and six-membered ring products. Notably, unsymmetrical bis(enones) possessing sufficient steric or electronic bias yield single isomeric products.