One-pot organocatalytic domino Michael/α-alkylation reactions: highly enantioselective synthesis of functionalized cyclopentanones and cyclopentanols

A simple, highly enantioselective catalytic route to cyclopentanones is presented. The chiral amine catalyzed domino Michael/α-alkylation reaction gives access to functionalized cyclopentanones in good to high yields with 93 → 99% ee. The products were also reduced with high diastereoselectivity to the corresponding cyclopentanols.