Catalytic Asymmetric α‑Aldol Reaction of Vinylogous <i>N</i>‑Heterocyclic Carbene Enolates: Formation of Quaternary and Labile Tertiary Stereocenters

Simple <i>N</i>-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-enolates are widely studied versatile species. However, their vinylogous siblings (i.e., vinylogous NHC-enolates) have been much less studied. Here we disclose the first catalytic asymmetric α-aldol reaction of vinylogous NHC-enolates. With trifluoropyruvate as the carbon electrophile, the efficient C–C bond formation process displays not only complete α-regioselectivity but also excellent stereocontrol over the two newly established challenging stereocenters (one quaternary and the other labile tertiary), furnishing a range of highly enantioenriched β,γ-unsaturated α-fluoroalkylated esters