Organocatalyzed Michael-Henry reactions: enantioselective synthesis of cyclopentanecarbaldehydes via the dienamine organocatalysis of a succinaldehyde surrogate

Asymmetric formal [3+2] cycloadditions of 4-hydroxybut-2-enal, a succinaldehyde surrogate, and nitroalkenes with an organocatalyst provided cyclopentanecarbaldehydes containing four consecutive stereogenic centers with excellent enantioselectivities.