One-step assembly of functionalized γ-butyrolactones from benzoins or benzaldehydes via an N-heterocyclic carbene-mediated tandem reaction

We describe here a direct, efficient, one-step construction of gamma,gamma-difunctionalized gamma-butyrolactones from benzoins or benzaldehydes via a tandem reaction promoted by 1,3-dimethyl imidazolin-2-ylidene, an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC).