Tandem conjugate addition–aldol cyclization of 2-formylbenzylidenemalonate with ether radicals by the mediation of dimethylzinc

The chemoselective radical conjugate addition reaction of THF or 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3-dioxolane with 2-formylbenzylidenemalonate gave tandem conjugate addition–aldol cyclization product in one pot. The radical tandem reaction was extended to the asymmetric reaction using bis(8-phenylmenthyl) 2-formylbenzylidenemalonate as a chiral Michael acceptor to provide an enantioenriched indane derivative.