Enantioselective Vinylogous Conia-Ene Reaction Catalyzed by a Disilver(I)/Bisdiamine Complex

Chiral all-carbon spirocycles emerge in a wide variety of natural products exhibiting biological and pharmacological activities. We present the disilver­(I)/bisdiamine complex catalyzed asymmetric vinylogous Conia-ene reaction of γ′-pentyne-cyclohex-3-enones for the direct synthesis of chiral all-carbon spirocycles. The synergistic catalysis of silver­(I) and the amine provided the vinylogous adducts in good yields with high enantioselectivities. DFT calculations verified the regioselectivity and enantioselectivity of the reaction and highlighted the high catalytic activity of the disilver­(I)/bisdiamine complex. In addition, various polycyclic products were achieved by derivatization of the spirocyclic enones.