Asymmetric Cycloisomerization of 1,6‐ and 1,7‐Enynes by Transition‐Metal Catalysts

Highly functionalized carbo‐ and heterocycles can be prepared enantioselectively from simple enynes in transition‐metal‐catalyzed reactions. This versatile, atom‐economic, and environmentally friendly approach has become a mainstay in natural product synthesis. The concise synthesis of (+)‐pilocarpine is one example (see scheme). binap=2,2′‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl), cod=cyclooctadiene, RT=room temperature.