Asymmetric Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Tetrahydrothiophenes by Organocatalytic Domino Reactions

International audienceA simple approach for the formation of optically active highly functionalized tetrahydrothiophenes, which might find important use in biochemistry, pharmaceutical science, and nanoscience is presented. Development of new organocatalytic Michael-aldol domino reactions is outlined, and with the appropriate choice of additives it is possible to control the regioselectivity of these domino reactions, yielding diastereomerically pure (tetrahydrothiophen-2-yl)phenyl methanones or tetrahydrothiophene carbaldehydes in good yields and with excellent enantioselectivities up to 96% ee. The stereochemical outcome of these reactions is investigated, and the mechanism of these organocatalytic domino processes is presented