The first asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-conicol has been achieved via a key step reaction involving the organocatalytic domino oxa-Michael-Michael-Michael-aldol condensation of 2-((E)-2-nitrovinyl)benzene-1,4-diol and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. Structures of the three-component domino reaction adducts, 20 and 21, including their absolute configurations, were confirmed unambiguously by X-ray analysis. Through this work, the absolute configuration of (+)-conicol was thereby elucidated.

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Asymmetric domino Michael-acetalization reactions of 2-hydroxynitrostyrene and aldehydes "on water" followed by oxidation providing the cis-3,4-disubstituted dihydrocoumarins with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee). The variant with glutaraldehyde underwent a highly stereoselective domino Michael-acetalization-Henry reaction to afford the tetrahydro-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-ones after the subsequent oxidation.

Asymmetric domino Michael-acetalization reactions of 2-hydroxynitrostyrene and 2-oxocyclohexanecarbaldehyde with a bifunctional thiourea-tertiary-amine organocatalyst, e.g., the Takemoto catalyst, followed by oxidation providing the 1',3-spiro-2'-oxocyclohexan-3,4-dihydrocoumarin having one all-carbon quaternary stereocenter with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee), are described. The structures and absolute configurations of the products were confirmed by X-ray analysis.