NHC-catalyzed efficient synthesis of β′-amino enones via carbonyl umpolung reaction of enals with aziridines

The first example of N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed synthesis of β′-amino-α,β-unsaturated ketones via regioselective ring-opening of terminal aziridines with enals is reported. The protocol involves carbonyl umpolung reactivity of enals in which the carbonyl carbon attacks nucleophilically on electrophilic terminal aziridines. No by-product formation, operational simplicity, ambient temperature, good to excellent yields (76–94%), and regioselectivity are the salient features of the present procedure.