Relay catalysis: combined metal catalyzed oxidation and asymmetric iminium catalysis for the synthesis of bi- and tricyclic chromenes.

A catalytic asymmetric oxidative iminium-allenamine cascade allows the use of propargyl alcohols as stable substrates and yields valuable chiral bicyclic 4H-chromenes. A subsequent Michael addition-condensation domino reaction provides complex tricyclic 4H-chromenes in a highly enantioselective fashion. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012