Organocatalytic activation of alkylacetic esters as enolate precursors to react with α,β-unsaturated imines.

Asymmetric functionalization of alkylacetic esters and their derivatives is traditionally achieved via preformed enolates with chiral auxiliaries. Catalytic versions of such transformations are attractive but challenging. A direct catalytic activation of simple alkylacetic esters via N-heterocyclic carbene organocatalysts to generate chiral enolate intermediates for highly enantioselective reactions is reported.