Silicon as a directing group in the phosphine-catalyzed [2 + 3]-cycloaddition of aryl allenones with electron-deficient olefins

This Communication describes a highly efficient phosphine-catalyzed [2 + 3]-cycloaddition reaction using α-trimethylsilyl-substituted aryl allenones and electron deficient olefins; both good yields and good asymmetric induction were obtained.