An unprecedented KI/tert-butyl hydroperoxide promoted tandem Michael addition/oxidative annulation of allene-1,3-dicarboxylic esters and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds has been developed. This procedure provides a new, facile, and transition-metal-free synthetic approach to afford polysubstituted furans in moderate to excellent yields (up to 93 %). This method first establishes a α,β-double electrophilic reaction mode of allene-1,3-dicarboxylic esters to form 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.

The first highly diastereoselective and enantioselective catalytic asymmetric Michael addition of cyclic azomethine ylides with nitroalkenes have been developed to diastereodivergently generate either the syn or anti adducts by employing N,O-ligand/Cu(OAc)₂ and N,P-ligand/Cu(OAc)₂ catalytic systems. Both catalytic systems exhibit broad substrate applicability to afford the corresponding Michael adducts in good to excellent yields, with excellent levels of diastereo- (up to 99:1 diastereomeric ratio) and enantioselectivities (up to >99 % enantiomeric excess). Importantly, the chiral 1,7-diazaspiro[4.4]nonane diastereomer derivatives can be easily obtained in good yields through facile NaBH₄ reduction of the Michael adducts.