Merging N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis and Single Electron Transfer: A New Strategy for Asymmetric Transformations.

Radical chemistry meets NHCs: NHC catalysis and single electron oxidants have been merged in several transformations, allowing the synthesis of useful β-hydroxy esters, cyclopentanones, and spirocyclic-γ-lactones in a highly stereoselective manner. The key step is the oxidation of the NHC homoenolate equivalent to a radical species via a single-electron transfer process.