Enantioselective Synthesis of Allenecarboxylates from Phenyl Acetates Through CC Bond Forming Reactions

A variety of optically active 4,4-disubstituted allenecarboxylic acid methyl esters were prepared from simple α,α-disubstituted phenyl acetate through base treatment of the esters to generate ketenes, followed by successive Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction. The transformation was further developed as a one-pot procedure with satisfactory yields and high enantioselectivity.