title: Alkali base-initiated Michael addition/alkyne carbocyclization cascades.
abstract: A new cascade reaction involving an intramolecular Michael addition followed by an alkyne carbocyclization is presented. The reaction is promoted by a substoichiometric amount of KHMDS and represents one of the rare examples where the carbocyclization of an unactivated alkyne is mediated by an alkali metal base, under mild conditions. The reaction allows the generation of functionally dense, stereochemically defined, tricyclic structures possessing three adjacent stereocenters in good yields and with high stereoselectivity.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kourra
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Klotter
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sladojevich
authors.forename: Darren J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Dixon