Highly stereoselective synthesis of 1,2,3-trisubstituted indanes via oxidative N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed cascades.

Three stereocenters are formed in the carbene catalyzed cascade reaction of enals with various β-diketones to give the corresponding indane derivatives with excellent stereoselectivities. The products are readily transformed to the corresponding 1,2,3-trisubstituted indane derivatives, which represent privileged substructures in medicinal chemistry.