A concise and practical enantioselective synthesis of (+)-galbulin has been achieved using organocatalytic domino Michael-Michael-aldol condensation and organocatalytic kinetic resolution as the key steps.

A stereoselective synthesis of fully substituted cyclopentenes has been achieved by a sequential organocatalyzed Stetter and Michael-aldol condensation of aromatic aldehydes, nitroalkenes, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes via the [1 + 2 + 2] annulation strategy with excellent diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).

Antroquinonol, which was first isolated from a mushroom, Antrodia cinnamomea, found in Taiwan, is an anticancer compound with a unique core structure of 4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethoxycyclohex-2-enone carrying methyl, farnesyl and hydroxyl substituents in the 4,5-cis-5,6-trans configuration. A short synthesis of (±)-antroquinonol is accomplished in seven steps from 2,3,4-trimethoxyphenol, which is oxidized in methanol to a highly electron-rich substrate of 2,3,4,4-tetramethoxycyclohexadienone and then a Michael reaction with dimethylcuprate is performed as the key step, followed by alkylation, reduction and epimerization to incorporate the required substituents at three contiguous stereocenters.

A synthesis of fully substituted cyclopentanes bearing a quaternary carbon center and five contiguous stereogenic centers has been achieved by sequential organocatalyzed Stetter and Michael-Aldol reactions of heteroaromatic aldehydes, nitroalkenes, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes via the [1 + 2 + 2] annulation strategy with dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation and excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).