Conjugate Addition of Carbon Acids to ß,γ-Unsaturated α-Keto Esters: Product Tautomerism and Applications for Asymmetric Synthesis of Benzo[a]phenazin-5-ol Derivatives.

A correlation between the equilibrium ratio of tautomeric products generated by the asymmetric Michael reactions of cyclic carbon acids with ß,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters and the chemical shift of the α-proton in starting nucleophilic substrates was revealed which makes equilibration predictable. New tetrahydropyran-fused benzo[a]phenazins were enantioselectively (up to 99% ee) synthesized from ß,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters and benzo[a]phenazin-5-ol, a powerful anti-cancer agent sAJM589. Facile recyclability of catalyst Ia in the catalytic reactions was demonstrated.