First Zinc Bromide Promoted Annulative Domino Reactions between Enamines and Cyclic Morita–Baylis–Hillman Alcohols: Synthesis of N,O-Ketals

A new efficient ZnBr2-mediated annulative domino reaction between enamines and cyclic Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) alcohols is disclosed. The process involves a tandem sequence (intermolecular conjugate addition of enamines to MBH alcohols and intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the hydroxyl moiety to the transiently generated iminium ion), affording the corresponding N,O-ketals diastereoselectively in good yields.