“…Lactones [ 160 , 161 ], azlactones [ 162 ], phthalides [ 163 ], cyclic hemiacetals [ 164 ], and benzofuranones [ 165 ] have shown as suitable pro-nucleophiles in the asymmetric organocatalytic conjugate addition to nitroolefins. Concerning lactones, the direct asymmetric vinylogous conjugate addition of γ-aryl-substituted deconjugated butenolides to β-alkyl and β-aryl substituted nitroolefins has been performed using chiral thioureas 149 and 150 as organocatalysts, to afford the corresponding chiral lactones 151 bearing adjacent quaternary and tertiary stereocenters with good isolated yields, high diastereoselectivities, and excellent enantioselectivities [ 160 ] ( Scheme 42 ).…”