Enantioselective synthesis of bicarbocyclic structures with an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter through sequential cross metathesis and intramolecular Rauhut–Currier reaction

A new extension of the Birch–Cope sequence is described which allows the efficient enantioselective construction of highly functionalized, fused bicarbocyclic structures with an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter in two steps. The two-step sequence includes a cross metathesis between a terminal alkene and a polarized alkene followed by an intramolecular Rauhut–Currier reaction with a trialkylphosphine catalyst.