The first enantioselective sequential
phosphine-catalyzed (SPC
as abbreviation) mode for the formation of tetrahydroquinolines with
an ethynyl-substituted all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center is
reported. In this SPC process, a novel [4 + 2] annulation process
was devised employing α-substituted allenoates as C2 synthons
(α–β′, 1,2-dipole) for the first time. 3-Ethynyl-substituted
tetrahydroquinolines were readily prepared in good yields and high
enantioselectivities.