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The first example of phosphine-catalyzed α-umpolung addition of nucleophiles to allenoates is described, which features the use of δ-acetoxy allenoate to generate a 3-phosphonium-2,4-dienoate intermediate, thus facilitating the α-umpolung addition of nucleophiles. Both sulfinate and diarylphosphine oxide are competitive nucleophiles, affording highly activated conjugated dienes with good to excellent stereoselectivities.

While the phosphine catalysis is a powerful tool for the construction of N-heterocycles, the phosphine-catalyzed annulations toward lactam motif are still extremely scarce. Here, we report the asymmetric (3 + 2) annulations of δ-acetoxy allenoates with β-carbonyl amides by using the (R)-SITCP catalyst. The δC and γC of allenoate respectively engage in annulation with the αC and N of the amide, forging a γ-lactam with good to excellent stereoselectivity.

DABCO-catalyzed formal (3+3) annulations of β'-acetoxy allenoates with indoline-2-thiones are described, which provide facile access to thiopyrano[2,3-b]indole under mild reaction conditions. The reaction might proceed via the SN2'-SN2'-type process between β'-acetoxy allenoate and indole-2-thiolate with the assistance of the DABCO catalyst and K2CO3 additive, followed by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction at the 3-position of indole and central carbon of allene.

The thermal 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of 4-acetoxyallenoates 1 with various dipoles have been reported. When azomethine imines and nitrones are used as the 1,3-dipole partner, the corresponding reactions afford 2,3-dihydropyrazole and 2,3-dihydroisoxazole derivatives, respectively. These reactions might proceed via a thermal 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and the subsequent elimination of HOAc. In addition, allenoates 1 react well with in situ generated azomethine ylides in which a similar cycloaddition pathway is followed by oxidative aromatization to give indolizine derivatives.

The thermal 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of 4-acetoxyallenoates 1 with various dipoles have been reported. When azomethine imines and nitrones are used as the 1,3-dipole partner, the corresponding reactions afford 2,3-dihydropyrazole and 2,3-dihydroisoxazole derivatives, respectively. These reactions might proceed via a thermal 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and the subsequent elimination of HOAc. In addition, allenoates 1 react well with in situ generated azomethine ylides in which a similar cycloaddition pathway is followed by oxidative aromatization to give indolizine derivatives.