gold catalysis highly enantioenriched bicyclic enones are available via an operationally simple one-pot procedure. Iminium-ion activation by cinchona alkaloid-derived primary amine catalysts induces the Michael addition of propargylated malononitriles and cyanoacetates to α,β-unsaturated ketones. The resulting intermediates undergo an exo-dig cyclization, forming a new C–C bond followed by double-bond