Highly enantioselective direct vinylogous Michael addition of γ-butenolide to enals.

An unprecedented and simple direct vinylogous addition of deconjugated butenolide to enals has been developed in excellent stereoselectivities (>95% ee), with Aminal-PYrrolidine (APY) catalyst. This methodology allows for the efficient preparation of complex γ-butenolide from readily available renewable resources. Furthermore, preliminary mechanistic investigations have allowed for the better understanding of the origin of both stereoselectivities and of the observed high reactivities.