N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalysed Mukaiyama-Michael Reaction and Mukaiyama Aldol/Mukaiyama-Michael Three-Component Coupling Reaction

An N-heterocyclic carbene-catalysed Mukaiyama-Michael addition between several trimethylsilyl (TMS) enol ethers and chalcone derivatives has been discovered. In addition, a related reaction cascade involving dehydrative Mukaiyama aldol followed by a Mukaiyama-Michael addition process has been developed. The later reaction can also be achieved as a three-component coupling reaction. The enantioselective variant of these reactions has been examined with homochiral catalysts. Though these catalysts were active, they fail to achieve enantioinduction.