Enantioselective activation of stable carboxylate esters as enolate equivalents via N-heterocyclic carbene catalysts.

The first N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) mediated activation of stable carboxylate esters to generate enolate intermediates is disclosed. The catalytically generated arylacetic ester enolates undergo enantioselective reactions with α,β-unsaturated imines.