Fe-BPsalan complex catalyzed asymmetric vinylogous Mukaiyama–Michael reaction of silyloxyfuran and α,β-unsaturated acyl imidazoles with high enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity

Abstract

An efficient iron catalyzed asymmetric vinylogous Mukaiyama–Michael reaction of silyloxyfuran and α,β-unsaturated acyl imidazoles was developed to afford chiral γ-butenolide derivatives (25 examples) in moderate to good yields (up to 98%) and with excellent stereoselectivities (up to >20 : 1 dr and 99% ee). The reaction was easily scaled up with high efficiency and excellent selectivities retained.