Chiral phosphepine 1 catalyzes the transformation of an array of hydroxy-2-alkynoates into saturated oxygen heterocycles with good enantioselectivity. Phenols are also shown to participate in such phosphine-catalyzed cyclizations, including an asymmetric variant. This method provides a new approach to the enantioselective synthesis of tetrahydrofurans, tetrahydropyrans, and dihydrobenzopyrans.

Lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (LTMP)-induced intramolecular cyclopropanation of unsaturated terminal epoxides provides an efficient and completely stereoselective entry to bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-ols and bicyclo[4.1.0]heptan-2-ols. Further elaboration of C-5 and C-6 stannyl-substituted bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-ols via Sn-Li exchange/electrophile trapping or Stille coupling generates a range of substituted bicyclic cyclopropanes. An alternative straightforward cyclopropanation protocol using a catalytic amount of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (TMP) allows for a convenient (1 g-7.5 kg) synthesis of bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-ol and other bicyclic adducts. The synthetic utility of this chemistry has been demonstrated in a concise asymmetric synthesis of (+)-beta-cuparenone. The related unsaturated chlorohydrins also undergo intramolecular cyclopropanation via in situ epoxide formation.

The first examples are described of catalyzed γ-additions of nitrogen nucleophiles to γ-substituted alkynoates or allenoates that proceed with good efficiency, specifically, intra- and intermolecular processes that employ distinct and useful families of nitrogen nucleophiles (anilines and 2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide), catalyzed by spirophosphine 1. Furthermore, the first demonstrations are reported of asymmetric reactions, affording interesting classes of target molecules such as enantioenriched pyrrolidines, indolines, and γ-amino-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.