Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure Cyclohex‐2‐en‐1‐ols: Development of Novel Multicomponent Reactions

Multicomponent reactions of aldehydes, dienophiles, and alcohols or carboxylic acid anhydrides have been developed for the first time. In situ generation of 1-acyloxy- and 1-alkoxy-1,3-butadiene derivatives in toluene in the presence of electron-deficient dienophiles provides selective and efficient access to functionalized cyclohex-2-ene-1-ols in good yields. Subsequent enzyme-catalyzed kinetic resolution gave the corresponding enantiomers with high enantioselectivity.