N‑Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed [3 + 4] Annulation of Enals and Alkenyl Thiazolones: Enantioselective Synthesis of Thiazole-Fused ε‑Lactones

The bifunctional N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed [3 + 4] annulation of enals and 5-alkenyl thiazolones was developed, giving the corresponding thiazole-fused ε-lactones in high yields with excellent diastereoselectivties and enantioselectivities. The thiazole-fused ε-lactone could be isomerized to the spirocyclic thiazolone–cyclopentanone without erosion of enantioselectivity.