Organocatalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of 2‐Amino‐4 H ‐chromene Derivatives

Optically active 2‐amino‐5‐oxo‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydro‐4 H ‐chromene‐3‐carboxylates, 2‐amino‐5‐oxo‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydro‐4 H ‐chromene‐3‐carbonitriles, and 2‐amino‐8‐oxo‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydro‐4 H ‐chromene‐3‐carbonitriles were synthesized. Using cinchona alkaloid‐derived bifunctional catalysts, the corresponding 2‐amino‐4 H ‐chromene derivatives were obtained in high yields and moderate to high ee values (up to 82% ee) from the tandem Michael addition–cyclization reaction between 1,3‐cyclohexanediones or 1,2‐cyclohexanediones and ( E )‐3‐aryl‐2‐cyanoacrylate or alkylidene malononitrile derivatives.