Phosphine-catalyzed [5+1] annulation of β′-acetoxy allenoates: straightforward access to tetrahydroquinoline derivatives

An unprecedented phosphine-catalyzed [5+1] annulation of β'-acetoxy allenoates with 1,5-dinucleophiles has been developed, which provides novel and facile access to functionalized tetrahydroquinolines in good to high yields in the presence of PPh3 and K3PO4 under mild reaction conditions. Notably, it is the first report of β'-acetoxy allenoates acting as C1 synthons in Lewis base-catalyzed annulation reactions.