Organocatalytic enantioselective Michael-Michael-Michael-aldol condensation reactions: control of five stereocenters in a quadruple-cascade asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized hexahydrophenanthrenes.

A cascade organocatalysis has been developed for the enantioselective synthesis of a highly functionalized hexahydrophenanthrene-2-carbaldehyde containing five contiguous stereogenic centers with high diastereoselectivity and high enantioselectivity (>99% ee). The one-pot method comprises a cascade of organocatalytic Michael-Michael-Michael-aldol reactions of 2-methyl-1,5-dinitro-3-((E)-2-nitrovinyl)benzene and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (e.g., cinnamaldehyde). The structure and absolute configuration of a product were confirmed by X-ray analysis of an appropriate derivative.