Highly enantioselective [4+2] cycloadditions of allenoates and dual activated olefins catalyzed by N-acyl aminophosphines

An asymmetric organocatalytic [4 + 2] cycloaddition between alpha-substituted allenoates and dual activated olefins using bifunctional N-acyl aminophosphine catalysts is described. The use of 2-cyano acrylate derived olefins led to the first successful incorporation of an electrophile derived from an aliphatic aldehyde into this reaction.