Phosphine-Catalyzed β,γ-Umpolung Domino Reaction of Allenic Esters: Facile Synthesis of Tetrahydrobenzofuranones Bearing a Chiral Tetrasubstituted Stereogenic Carbon Center

An enantio-, diastereo-, regio-, and chemoselective phosphine-catalyzed β,γ-umpolung domino reaction of allenic esters with dienones has been developed for the first time. The designed sequence, involving oxy-Michael and Rauhut–Currier reactions, produced highly functionalized tetrahydrobenzofuranones, bearing a chiral tetrasubstituted stereogenic center, in up to 96 % ee.