No abstract

Graphical abstract

No abstract

The Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction is one of the most useful and efficient protocols for constructing new carbon-carbon bonds between an activated olefin and electrophiles in the presence of a tertiary amine/phosphine. Herein, we present the use of MBH alcohols, which are obtained from the reaction of nitrostyrenes with aldehydes, as well as acetates and amines derived thereof in several organocatalytic transformations. Densely functionalised MBH adducts can also be used to synthesise substituted heteroaromatic compounds, such as furan, pyrrole, pyrazole and imidazole derivatives.

An organocatalytic domino reaction between 2-arylideneindane-1,3-diones and glutaraldehyde has been devised that gives functionalized spirocyclohexane carbaldehydes with an all-carbon quaternary center. The reaction proceeds through a Michael/Aldol sequence in good-to-high chemical yields and with high levels of stereoselectivity (up to >95:5 dr and 99% ee) in the presence of the α,α-L-diphenylprolinol trimethylsilyl ether 3 (20 mol %) and DIPEA (20 mol %) in ether at 0 °C.