Enantioselective NHC-catalysed redox [4+2]-hetero-Diels-Alder reactions using α-aroyloxyaldehydes and unsaturated ketoesters

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalysed redox [4+2]-hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of α-aroyloxyaldehydes with either β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters or α,β-unsaturated γ-ketoesters generates substituted syn-dihydropyranones in good yield with excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99:1 er). The product diastereoselectivity is markedly dependent upon the nature of the unsaturated enone substituent. The presence of either electron-neutral or electron-rich aryl substituents gives excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >99:5 dr), while electron-deficient aryl substituents give reduced diastereoselectivity. In these cases, the syn-dihydropyranone products are more susceptible to base-promoted epimerisation at the C(4)-position under the reaction conditions, accounting for the lower diastereoselectivity obtained.