Chiral Lewis Base‐Catalysed Asymmetric Syntheses of Benzo‐fused ϵ‐Lactones

Abstract We herein report a two‐step protocol for the asymmetric synthesis of novel chiral benzofused ϵ‐lactones starting from O‐protected hydroxymethyl‐para‐quinone methides and activated aryl esters. By using chiral isothiourea Lewis base catalysts a broad variety of differently substituted products could be obtained in yields of around 50 % over both steps with high levels of enantioselectivities, albeit low diastereoselectivities only.