The first enantioselective organocatalytic Mukaiyama-Michael reaction using α, β- unsaturated aldehydes has been accomplished. The use of iminium catalysis has provided a new strategy for the enantioselective addition of 2-silyloxy furans to unsaturated aldehydes to generate a variety of butenolide systems, an important chiral synthon found among many natural isolates. The (2 S, 5 S)-5-benzyl-2-tert-butyl-imidazolidinone amine catalyst has ...
