Michael addition of cyclic β-oxo ester and α-methyl cyano ester substrates with activated olefins by iron complexes of benzimidazole derived N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

Iron N−heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes catalyzed the Michael addition of cyclic β-oxo ester and α-methyl cyano ester substrates with activated olefins in the presence of l-proline as chiral auxiliary under ambient conditions. The key catalytic intermediate species have been detected by mass spectrometry.157