Organocatalytic sulfa-Michael/aldol cascade: constructing functionalized 2,5-dihydrothiophenes bearing a quaternary carbon stereocenter.

A practical sulfa-Michael/aldol cascade reaction of 1,4-dithiane-2,5-diol and α-aryl-β-nitroacrylates has been developed, which allows efficient access to functionalized 2,5-dihydrothiophenes bearing a quaternary carbon stereocenter in moderate to good yields with high enantioselectivities.