Phosphine Catalyzed Enantioselective Cascade Reaction Initiated by Intermolecular Cross Rauhut‐Currier Reaction of Electron‐Deficientortho‐Formyl Styrenes

The Rauhut‐Currier reaction generally employs α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds and nitroalkenes as the substrates. Here we develop an enantioselective formal [4+2] annulation reaction, which is initiated by an intermolecular cross Rauhut‐Currier reaction between electron‐deficient ortho ‐formyl‐styrenes and 2‐benzoyl‐acrylonitriles catalyzed by an L ‐phenylglycine‐derived phosphine, followed by a cascade aldol/acyl transfer/elimination...