Phosphine-catalyzed regioselective Michael addition to allenoates

Chem Commun (Camb). 2015 Nov 21;51(90):16188-90. doi: 10.1039/c5cc06197k.

Abstract

The first phosphine catalysed Michael addition of arylcyanoacetates to allenoates has been developed, and the β-selective products with a quaternary center were obtained in excellent yields. This unusual regioselectivity may open new opportunities to access interesting molecular structures.