Synthetic and quantum mechanical studies into the N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed (4 + 2) cycloaddition.

The N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed (4 + 2) cycloaddition between α,β-unsaturated acid fluorides and TMS dienol ethers provides cyclohexene fused β-lactone intermediates stable below -20 °C. These can be intercepted reductively or with organolithium reagents to produce diastereomerically pure cyclohexenes (>20:1 dr) with up to four contiguous stereocenters. The mechanism has been investigated using theoretical calculations and by examining secondary kinetic isotope effects. Together these studies implicate the formation of a diastereomerically pure β-lactone intermediate by a stepwise (4 + 2) cycloaddition involving Michael addition, aldol cyclization, and lactonization.