A highly regio- and stereoselective cascade annulation of enals and benzodi(enone)s catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes

Three stereogenic centers in a row: The unconventional activation of enal compounds mediated by an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) has generated three consecutive reactive carbon centers that undergo highly regio- and stereoselective annulations with di(enone)s to generate benzotricyclic products containing multiple stereogenic centers (see scheme)