2-Arylacetic anhydrides as ammonium enolate precursors†
Abstract
Readily prepared 2-arylacetic anhydrides act as convenient ammonium enolate precursors in isothiourea (HBTM-2.1)-mediated catalytic asymmetric intermolecular Michael addition–lactonisation processes, giving diverse synthetic building blocks in good yield with high diastereo- and enantiocontrol (up to 98 : 2 dr and >99% ee).