Synthesis of Functionalized Cyclobutenes and Spirocycles via Asymmetric P(III)/P(V) Redox Catalysis

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AbstractAn enantioselective phosphine‐catalyzed transformation has been developed for the synthesis of chiral cyclobutene triesters and fluorinated spirocyclic compounds. The strategy involved a P(III)/P(V) redox cycling process, via in situ reduction of phosphine oxide with phenylsilane. This catalytic methodology has enabled the enantioselective synthesis of functionalized cyclobutenes (24 examples, up to 94% ee). On the occasion of the extension of this study to α‐ketoester indenone substrates, a surprising reactivity has been discovered for the synthesis of spiro‐indenone products.magnified image