Novel amine-catalysed hydroalkoxylation reactions of activated alkenes and alkynes

Substoichiometric loadings of DBU catalyse the efficient 1,4-addition of alcohols and nonnucleophilic amines such as pyrrole to activated alkenes; the application of this methodology in a one-pot synthesis of a natural product, and as a novel strategy for the synthesis of monoprotected 1,3-carbonyl compounds is reported.