Organocatalytic Asymmetric Construction of Tetrasubstituted Carbon Stereocenters Bearing Three Heteroatoms via Intramolecular Cyclization of Vinylidene ortho -Quinone Methide with Imidates.

We report herein an organocatalytic asymmetric protocol for the construction of tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenters bearing three heteroatoms. The reaction proceeded via the enantioselective intramolecular cyclization reaction of vinylidene ortho -quinone methide (VQM) with imidates to form pentacyclic heterocycles. The formed tetrasubstituted carbon center was stable under a high temperature and the conditions for further transformations.