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-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis has presented new opportunities for enantioselective reaction development. Recent findings illustrate that Lewis acids can play an important role in homoenolate annulations by: enhancement of the reactivity, reversal of the diastereo- or regioselectivity, and activation of previously inactive electrophiles. Additionally, the incorporation of a Lewis acid into Brønsted base-catalyzed conjugate addition allowed for an increase in yields.
Cohen et al. (Wed,) studied this question.