Highly Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Synthesis of 5‐Substituted 3‐Pyrrolidin‐2‐ones: Vinylogous Michael Addition under Multifunctional Catalysis

A direct line: A direct organocatalytic asymmetric vinylogous Michael addition of α,β-unsaturated γ-butyrolactams with α,β-unsaturated ketones has been developed (see scheme; Boc=tert-butoxycarbonyl, Trp=tryptophan, Ts=4-toluenesulfonyl). The resulting Michael products, 5-substituted 3-pyrrolidin-2-ones, could be obtained in excellent yields with excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivity.