An approach to the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction has led to a cascade synthesis of complex carbocycles composed of three fused rings and up to five stereocenters with complete stereocontrol. Computational analysis reveals that the reaction proceeds by a Michael/Michael/cyclopropanation/epimerization cascade in which size and coordination of the counterion is key.
Keywords: cations; cycloadditions; density-functional calculations; diastereoselectivity; heterocycles.
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