10.1016/j.tetlet.2009.02.209
This research describes an organocatalytic enantioselective domino Michael/aldol reaction for the synthesis of highly functionalized cyclohexanes featuring an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter and multiple chiral stereocenters. The purpose of the study was to develop a method that could efficiently construct complex molecular scaffolds with high yields and enantioselectivity (83–98% ee). The researchers used chiral amines as catalysts and investigated the reaction between glutaraldehyde and various 2-cyanocinnamic acid esters. The process involved the formation of multiple carbon-carbon bonds and stereocenters in a one-pot reaction, which aligns with green chemistry principles by minimizing waste and solvents. The conclusions of the study were that the developed method allowed for the construction of four stereocenters with very high stereocontrol, and the products could serve as valuable scaffolds for further synthetic manipulations. The reaction was accelerated by heating and could be performed under microwave irradiation.