Lewis Base Assisted Brønsted Base Catalysis: Direct Regioselective Asymmetric Vinylogous Alkylation of Allylic Sulfones

A Lewis base assisted Brønsted base catalysis (LBABB) strategy is applied for direct asymmetric vinylogous alkylation of allylic sulfones with Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) carbonates, in which a strong Brønsted base, tert‐butoxy anion, generated in situ from a tertiary amine catalyst and MBH carbonate, is crucial in activating unstabilized nucleophiles. The γ‐regioselective alkylation products were obtained with good to excellent enantiomeric excess values when catalyzed by a modified cinchona alkaloid. Survival of the weakest: A Lewis base assisted Brønsted base catalysis (LBABB) strategy is applied to the direct asymmetric vinylogous alkylation of allylic sulfones with Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) carbonates, in which a strong Brønsted base, tert‐butoxy anion, generated in situ from a tertiary amine catalyst and MBH carbonate, is crucial in activating unstabilized nucleophiles (see scheme).