Allen(oat)e transformations catalyzed by isothioureas

Allenoates represent a class of easily accessible and highly reactive small compounds that allow for unique reactions in the presence of different catalysts. The hereby accessible products show high degrees of complexity and are of interest for the syntheses of advanced targets with interesting biological properties, i.e. with respect to potential medical applications. Within this project we wish to establish well-known isothioureas as catalysts for reactions of allenoates, a strategy that has so far not been reported. Preliminary investigations have shown that these catalysts hold much potential to obtain novel products that are not accessible with existing strategies and we will investigate this in detail within this project. The overall goal will therefore be the development of novel unprecedented synthesis methods that provide efficient entries towards complex molecules. Mario Waser 1