Synthetic and Computational Study of the Enantioselective [3+2]-Cycloaddition of Chromones with MBH Carbonates

Highly efficient and straightforward access to enantioenriched five-membered ring-fused chromanones is developed via [3+2]-cycloaddition of 3-cyanochromones with Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates. Densely functionalized chiral cyclopenta[b]chromanones with three continuous quaternary and tertiary stereogenic carbon centers were obtained in high yields with high ee and dr (≤97% yield, 97% ee, and >20:1 dr). Moreover, density functional theory calculations have been carried out to investigate the mechanism and regio- and diastereoselectivity of the reaction.