Two consecutive N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalytic systems were combined in a one-pot cascade reaction for the assembly of aromatic aldehydes and 2-haloenals into a structurally complex γ-lactone backbone.
Nucleophilic heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed annulation of enals proceeds with variety of 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds, leading to the formation of 4,4,5-trisubstituted γ-butyrolactones.