Enantioenriched α,β-Unsaturated Lactones via Vinylogous Mukaiyama Aldol

Significance

From easily accessible starting materials, a variety of enantioenriched α,β-unsaturated six-membered lactones can be synthesized. This method demonstrates a facile route towards a challenging target. Even ketones with similar flanking substituents led to products with high ee. Neither electron-rich nor electron-poor aromatic ketones were well tolerated; and α,β-unsaturated ketones also gave poor results.