Domino Mukaiyama–Michael reactions in the synthesis of polycyclic systems

Good results were obtained in the Mukaiyama–Michael reaction of the silyl enol ether of cyclohexanone with 2-methyl-2-cyclopentenone and carvone, with transfer of the silyl group to the receiving enone and with TrSbCl6 as catalyst. A second Mukaiyama–Michael reaction of this new silyl enol ether with methyl vinyl ketone and cyclization of the resulting adduct leads to tricyclic compounds in one-pot domino sequences. The scope and limitations of this domino reaction have been investigated.