The 5-endo-trig-type cyclization has been performed using a Pd-bis(isoxazoline) catalyst. The present cyclization of β,γ-unsaturated carbonyl compounds gave γ-butenolides and 3-pyrrolin-2-ones in good to excellent yields.

Molybdenum hexacarbonyl (Mo(CO)6) was used as an efficient catalyst for the chemoselective reduction of the amide functionality in α,β-unsaturated compounds, under hydrosilylation conditions using 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDS) as the hydride source.

The development of an organocatalytic one-pot cascade for the annulation of simple starting materials: α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, hydrogen peroxide, β-carbonyl compounds and NBS to furnish optically active 3-pyrones in good yield and with excellent enantioselectivity is presented. Further diversification of the obtained products is demonstrated by selective reductive transformations.

A new enantioselective peroxidation of α,β-unsaturated nitroalkenes was realized with an easily accessible acid-base bifunctional organic catalyst derived from cinchona alkaloids. This reaction provides unprecedented easy access to optically active chiral peroxides, as illustrated by the asymmetric synthesis of β-peroxy nitro compounds.

We report an asymmetric oxy-Michael addition to a γ-hydroxy-α,β-unsaturated thioester via hemiacetal intermediates in the presence of Cinchona-alkaloid-thiourea-based bifunctional organocatalysts. This method provides a novel enantioselective route to β-hydroxy carboxyl compounds, which in turn can be used to synthesize valuable chiral building blocks.

Chalcones are a class of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds that form the central core for a variety of naturally occurring biologically active compounds. They exhibit tremendous potential to act as a pharmacological agent. Besides their various pharmacological activities, chalcones have been explored for different optical applications including second harmonic generation materials in non-linea...

A novel one-pot synthesis of π-conjugated polycyclic compounds, which could undergo further facile transformation to form complex polycyclic heteroarene compounds, has been realized between 7-azaindoles and α,β-unsaturated ketones. This distinctive cascade process proceeds via a rhodium(iii)-catalyzed alkylation/copper-catalyzed radical annulation-aromatization pathway.

α,β-Unsaturated carbonyl compounds are versatile intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and biologically active compounds. Here, we report the discovery and application of Pd(DMSO)(2)(TFA)(2) as a catalyst for direct dehydrogenation of cyclohexanones and other cyclic ketones to the corresponding enones, using O(2) as the oxidant. The substrate scope includes heterocyclic ketones and ...