Diastereodivergent Enantioselective [8 + 2] Annulation of Tropones and Enals Catalyzed by N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

N-Heterocyclic carbene catalysts are used for the first time to mediate asymmetric [8 + 2] cycloadditions of enals with tropones. The kinetic [8 + 2] cis-cycloadducts can be epimerized to their trans analogues by simply using increased amounts of base and longer reaction times. Substituted tropones are also tolerated, and the cycloaddition products can be derivatized by hydrogenation or methanolysis. The main stereochemical features of the process have been rationalized by microkinetic modeling based on the results of DFT calculations.