Pentaenolate activation in the organocatalytic allylic alkylation of indene-2-carbaldehydes.

In this manuscript, the application of pentaenolate intermediates in the allylic alkylation of indene-2-carbaldehydes with Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates is described. The reaction has been carried out in a highly enantio- and diastereoselective manner due to the use of a chiral tertiary amine as a nucleophilic catalyst. The developed reactivity constitutes the first application of organocatalytic pentaenolate activation in asymmetric synthesis, expanding the arsenal of catalytic methods.