Highly Enantioselective Kinetic Resolution of Michael Adducts through N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis : An Efficient Asymmetric Route to Cyclohexenes

Abstract

Ahighly efficient strategy for the kinetic resolu-tion of Michael adductswas realized using achiral N-het-erocyclic carbene catalyst.The kinetic resolution providesanew convenientroute to single diastereomers of cyclo-hexenes and Michael adducts in good yields with highenantiomeric excesses (up to 99 % ee with aselectivityfactor of up to 458). This “two flies with one swat” con-cept allows the synthesis of these two synthetically valua-ble compound classes at the same time by asingle trans-formation.